A colourful army of costume-clad students and their ingeniously decked out wheelbarrows have been taking to Norwich's streets for the annual Pimp My Barrow extravaganza.

Norwich Evening News: UEA students dress to impress for the Pimp my Barrow charity fund raising event.Photo by Simon Finlay.UEA students dress to impress for the Pimp my Barrow charity fund raising event.Photo by Simon Finlay. (Image: Archant Norfolk.)

Garden gnomes, The Smurfs, and Alice in Wonderland were among the themes picked by the 300 teams of University of East Anglia students who took part in the charity fundraiser on Saturday afternoon.

Norwich Evening News: UEA students dress to impress for the Pimp my Barrow charity fund raising event.Photo by Simon Finlay.UEA students dress to impress for the Pimp my Barrow charity fund raising event.Photo by Simon Finlay. (Image: Archant Norfolk.)

Pimp My Barrow is now in its eighth year and in that time has raised a huge amount for cancer charity Big C.

This year's fun - which involved about 1,800 students - kicked off at the UEA Square where everyone gathered with their barrows before moving to Eaton Park for the barrow race in three separate waves.

Afterwards the teams did a tour of the Golden Triangle, stopping off at the The Farmhouse, The Garden House, and The Black Horse along the way.

Lynne Simpkin, one of the Pimp My Barrow organisers, said: 'There was a real carnival atmosphere, particularly around the races, and lots of members of the public came out to watch. It was a really nice day, and it is great how everyone gets involved.

'Year on year we have noticed that more people come out to watch.

'We'd also like thank The Farmhouse, The Garden House, and The Black Horse for helping to make Pimp My Barrow possible.'

Former UEA students Paul Wheeler and Tom Tapper came up with the idea of Pimp My Barrow in 2007 to raise money for charity, raise the student profile in Norwich, and have some fun.

UEA's Raising and Giving Society and the Union of UEA Students now organise and manage the Norwich Pimp My Barrow event.

Since the first Pimp My Barrow, UEA students have raised nearly £40,000 for Big C, which supports local cancer patients seeking treatment and care.

Robbie McKnight, from Big C, said: 'It is a wonderful thing that the UEA students do this for Big C.

'We are always really humbled by the support and energy they show. It's been a really great day.'

• For more about Big C visit www.big-c.co.uk