DORCHESTER’S St Peter’s Church took on a different colour to kickstart an awareness month.

The church on High West Street was floodlit in purple as part of the Nationwide Purple Lights for Hope event, which launched the start of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

It was organised by local support group Pan Pals Dorset, along with churchwardens.

St Peter’s was one of many landmark buildings in the UK to be bathed in purple light for the evening. Others included Trafalgar Square, Blackpool Tower, and the Spinnaker at Portsmouth.

Events were held throughout November to raise awareness of the disease and to raise funds for the charity.

Debbie Aldous, of Pan Pals Dorset, said: “Motorists driving through Dorchester might have been surprised to see that the familiar facade of St Peter’s Church in High West Street had taken on a different hue.

“Thanks to the kindness of the vicar and the churchwardens, the church was floodlit in purple.”

Pan Pals began in 2012 and is affiliated to national charity Pancreatic Cancer UK.

It aims to offer local support and help for patients and their families.

The committee meets every month and has raised more than £10,000 over the past two years.

For further details, visit panpalsdorset.btck.co.uk