In fact, faces were also blue, green, yellow, purple, pink and an infinite combination thereof, all part of the Colour Me Active fun run, held in the grounds of the University of Tasmania's school of architecture.

Active Launceston co- ordinator Sharon King said that organisers were blown away with the number of last-minute entries. "About 560 had prebooked, but when this morning came around and the sky was blue and the sun shining, a further 200 registered on line and an extra 100 just turned up, pushing the entry towards 900," a delighted Ms King said.

"We were hoping for around 500, so this was fantastic.

"The event is about encouraging families to get out together and be active." Active Launceston project officer Rachel Grantham worked at one of the three designated colour zone stations, where participants are pelted with a range of colours and was as splattered with paint as the runners she targeted.

"It was so much fun - people came running up to you with big smiles on their faces asking to be covered with paint," Ms Grantham said.