A CHARITY event turned a Cornish town turquoise to raise awareness for an animal-friendly cause.

Bude was filled with colour last week, as the town transformed into a turquoise paradise to celebrate World Animal Free Research Day 2025.

Led by Bude’s branch of Animal Free Research UK, the town marked the occasion in style on Saturday, May 24. In total 21 businesses took part raising awareness of innovative, human relevant medical research funded the national organisation.

Supporters donned their best shade of turquoise to help spread the charity’s message.

Earlier in the week, the Bude group partnered with Banfords, Bude Animal Friends and the charity to run a colouring competition for preschool and nursery age children.

Steph Jones-Giles, who helps run the Bude branch said: “Congratulations to the winner Elowen Osborne who also won Westlands Nursery in Kilkhampton the gardening hamper. The runners up were Nellie Eatough from Cheldern Nursery and Marlee Abbott from Budehaven Day Nursery.”

The North Cornwall group has also thanked residents and businesses which took part in the project.

However, it wasn’t just those in Cornwall who marked the occasion, showing their support for the charity’s message, a group of animal-loving celebrities have come together to call for an end to animal experiments, in a new photoshoot captured by internationally acclaimed photographer Rankin.

In support of Animal Free Research UK, the series of portraits featured seven celebrities and two beagles, helping to raise awareness about the number of animals – including dogs – still used in scientific research in British laboratories.

A spokesperson from Animal Free Research UK said: “World Animal Free Research Day, a moment to spotlight alternatives to animal experiments. While scientists are already adopting human-specific alternatives, more than 2.6-million animals are still being used in British laboratories each year, according to the latest available figures.”