40,000 play with their food

Tens of thousands of people from around the world hurled tons of ripe tomatoes at each other yesterday in an annual food fight that leaves the Spanish town of Bunol covered in red juice.

A rocket fired from the town hall was the cue to start of the event for which local authorities provided 120 tonnes of tomatoes.

Revellers, including many from Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Asia, wore hard hats, goggles or protective plastic sheets.