Pamplona festival begins

Participants celebrate during the Chupinazo (loud bang) to mark the start at noon of the San Fermin Festival in front of the town hall in Pamplona Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands of people wave red scarves as they crowd into Pamplona's city hall square after the firing of a rocket known as the chupinazo Photograph: Josu Santesteban/EPA

Participants get wet during the Chupinazo to mark the start at noon sharp of the San Fermin Festival Photograph: Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images

A reveller jumps a fountain in Pamplona, Spain, at the start of Spain's most famous bull-running festival Photograph: Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP

Revellers drink wine from a small wineskin, in Pamplona, Spain Photograph: Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Revellers celebrate the Chupinazo, the official opening of the San Fermin fiesta Photograph: Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Revellers gather for the Chupinazo, the official opening of the 2011 San Fermin fiesta Photograph: Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP

A man is thrown into the air during the Chupinazo to mark the start at noon of the San Fermin Festival Photograph: Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images

Revellers react as water is thrown from a balcony during the Chupinazo, the official opening of the San Fermin fiesta in Pamplona Photograph: Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Revellers celebrate the Chupinazo, the official opening of the San Fermin fiesta in Pamplona, Spain Photograph: Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Participants celebrate during the Chupinazo Photograph: Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images

Revellers are sprayed with wine during the start of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona Photograph: Eloy Alonso/Reuters