More than 20,000 people have been drenched in red pulp after hurling tons of ripe tomatoes at each other in the annual “Tomatina” street battle in eastern Spain.

(Alberto Saiz/AP)

The fiesta in Bunol saw 160 tons of tomatoes offloaded from trucks into crowds jamming the town’s streets for the hour-long battle.

(Alberto Saiz/AP)

Participants, including many tourists, don swimming goggles to protect their eyes.

(Alberto Saiz/AP)

Organisers hose the streets down within minutes of the event’s end at noon, while participants use public showers.

(Alberto Saiz/AP)

The event was inspired by a food fight between local children in 1945 in the tomato-producing region.

(Alberto Saiz/AP)
(Alberto Saiz/AP)
(Alberto Saiz/AP)
(Alberto Saiz/AP)
(Alberto Saiz/AP)
(Alberto Saiz/AP)