SPLASHES of colour drifted through the skies as thousands ran across Cornbury Park for the county’s most colourful race.

About 2,000 people poured into the grounds of the stately home at Charlbury as the Run or Dye race returned for a second year.

Daring runners were blasted with a rainbow of powered dye as they travelled the 5km route around the park on Saturday, transforming their all-white outfits into a multicolour canvas.

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Community management executive for Run or Dye Kirstyn Luton, 23, said: “It’s so great because it’s more about having fun with your family and friends.

“Running through the dye is quite an experience. I think it just brings everybody together. It was a great day, not a cloud in the sky.”

Tunes echoed across the park as runners of all ages warmed up while they were showered with explosions of coloured dye by the event’s Colour Crew.

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Fundraisers put their best foot forward, passing through a mist of green dye as they began their challenge at about 10am.

Participants then braved five dye zones as they made their way across the grounds, splattered with even more colour during the race.

Alison Turner travelled from Headington with daughters Bryony, 19, Charlotte, 21, and Holly 25, to get pelted with the plant-based, eco-friendly dye.

The 43-year-old said: “We wanted to try to do more things as a family unit. It was good fun.”

The event, which is inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi, raised cash for the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary and national charity Help for Heroes. The sanctuary at Stadhampton rescues and rehomes hundreds of abandoned animals.

Website designer for the sanctuary Chris Lawlord, who volunteered at the event along with others from the animal centre, said cash raised will help staff plan for the future and find more potential homes for animals in need.

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The 25-year-old, from East Oxford, added: “I think anything that brings the community together is a fantastic thing.”

Harj Jandu threw herself into the colourful event with an army of colleagues from Didcot’s Soha Housing, which raised cash for the British Heart Foundation.

The 29-year-old, from Wantage, said the event reminded her of Holi celebrations back in her native Kenya.

She added: “It was so exciting. It was for a good cause, everyone got together. It was colourful and very positive.”

Vanessa Chapman-White, who celebrated her 43rd birthday during the event, raced around the park with friends from the East Isley Runners in Berkshire.

She said: “It was a bit bizarre. It was quite tough because the dye’s all around your face.”

Broadcaster Jack Sims travelled from Birmingham to continue the festival spirit and keep runners bouncing to music after completing the route around the park.

He said: “It was unique, very colourful and fantastic for the community. It was 10 times better than I thought it was going to be, I’m definitely going to do it again.”