VIDEO: Messy run was fantastic fun

Five hundred people, all in white T-shirts, were splattered with a mixture of red, blue, orange, yellow and green powdered paint, as they ran, jogged or walked down the seafront on Sunday to raise money for St John’s Hospice.

The 5km JWK Colour Dash started at VVV leisure club at Hest Bank, the participants turned around opposite Thornton Road, then finished back at VVV.

They had to pass through five points along the way where volunteers threw powdered paint all over them.

Passers-by even got in on the act as runners of all ages went past.

The Visitor content editor Greg Lambert was among those who took part in this messiest of fun runs.

Afterwards Greg said: “It was one of the most surreal and bonkers experiences of my life.

“The atmosphere at the starting line was euphoric as everyone sprinkled powdered paint on each other, and this was before we even started.

“We then got absolutely covered in great clouds of the stuff as we ran down the prom, and it was great fun.

“At the finish I had paint all over my clothes, shoes, face and hair, and so did everybody else.

“But it washed off easily afterwards.

“I could see this becoming an annual event and only becoming more popular in future.”

The promenade and shoreline were covered in colourful paint after the event. But a clean-up operation soon had it back to normal.

The Colour Dash was started by Beccy Meehan, presenter with North West Tonight, who also took part.

To sponsor Greg, go to https://colourdash2014.everydayhero.com/uk/greg – all money goes to St John’s Hospice.