Flour fight festival in Spain – in pictures

Revellers take part in a flour fight during the Els Enfarinats festival in Ibi, Spain. Citizens of Ibi annually celebrate the festival with a battle using flour, eggs and firecrackers. The battle takes place between two groups – a group of married men called 'Els Enfarinats' who take control of the village for one day, pronouncing a whole host of ridiculous laws and fining the citizens that infringe them and another group called 'La Oposicio' who try to restore order. At the end of the day the money collected from the fines is donated to charitable causes in the village. The festival has been celebrated since 1981, when the town of Ibi recovered the tradition, but the origins remain unknown Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

Mobile infantry take no prisoners during the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight, in the town of Ibi, south-eastern Spain Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

Fire extinguishers are also used in the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival in Ibi, Spain Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

Incoming! A man throws eggs as he takes part in the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in the town of Ibi, south-eastern Spain Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

People take part in 'Els Enfarinat', a battle with flour, eggs and firecrackers to raise money for charity, in Ibi, Alicante province, eastern Spain Photograph: Manuel Lorenzo/EPA

Never turn your back during the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival in Ibi, Spain Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

A reveller takes part in the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival in Ibi, Spain Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

A man takes a break during the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight, in the town of Ibi, south-eastern Spain Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

A reveller gets his egg retaliation in early during the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival in Ibi, Spain Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

A reveller pummelled into submission during the battle of 'Enfarinats', a flour fight in celebration of the Els Enfarinats festival in Ibi, Spain Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images