Have you seen a woman running frantically around St Albans city centre round dressed as a birthday cake?

If you have and wondered what it was all about, we have your answer - and it's actually for an amazing cause.

Anna Bassil, 40, is training ahead of the London Marathon which takes place on April 26.

The mother-of-two is raising money for Save the Children and has promised to dye her hair pink if she raises £2,500 for the charity.

Many marathon runners take to the streets of the capital on race day dressed in fancy dress - but you'd expect them to wear their normal training gear to prepare for the event.

But Mrs Bassil has not gone down that route. Instead, she has ventured out onto the streets of St Albans in her brightly-coloured pink marathon costume.

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She said: "The costume idea started out as just a small cupcake, but I upgraded to this bigger costume as I felt that the support that I’ve received so far has been amazing and everyone deserves a bigger return for their sponsorship.

"In order to raise awareness of my fundraising and Save the Children, I have run in the costume during the long weekend training sessions so you may well see me in the streets of St Albans and surrounding areas over the next three months, so keep an eye out."

Mrs Bassil is a scientific leader at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Stevenage.

The pharmaceutical company is a partner of Save the Children and has pledged to match however much Mrs Bassil raises.

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Mrs Bassil outside Buckingham Palace

Mrs Bassil added: "There is still lots of training to do. I've run the marathon previously in 2006 and 2007. On the day, it is going to be an amazing atmosphere.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me so far, be it through sponsorship, the donation of raffle prizes or just a shout out, smile or toot when you have seen me running past.

"Any amount, however large or small, donated towards the goal is truly appreciated, just £1 can make all the difference to the children and their families that the charity sets out to help."

Visit Mrs Bassil's fundraising page here.