Tens of thousands of pounds have been raised for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) during Ipswich’s most well supported Colour Dash to date.

Spectators came out in full force to watch more than 1,000 people complete the 5km course while being pelted with puffs of colourful paint in Christchurch Park yesterday.

And this year for the first time visitors could cool off from the 20C (68F) heat and have a go on the 100 metre Super Slip and Slide.

Event organiser Hannah Walker said the event, which is in its third year, was predicted to bring in around £25,000 for EACH, beating last year’s record by £5,000.

“Sometimes events can dip off in its third year but we have been amazed at the massive uptake,” Mrs Walker added.

“We’ve changed the route this year to keep it interesting and we also had the Slip and Slide, which absolutely took off everyone is loving it and people have set up picnics around it to watch people sliding down.

“The atmosphere has been electric, and the Sambuma Band were amazing.”

Officially starting the race was one of the hospice’s young service users, Bethany.

Mrs Walker said participants ranged from babies in pushchairs, to patients in wheelchairs.

The weather was also kind to the charity team, with the morning cloud clearing to make way for blazing sunshine.