Flour-faced fun at festival

A group of local people in Ibi, Alicante, douse themselves with flour for the tradition of Els Enfarinats (men with flour-caked faces) - dubbed the Spanish version of April Fool's Day.

Firstly, participants 'elect' a mayor, prosecutor and judge before parading through the city's streets creating good-humoured havoc with their fellow residents.

As part of the custom, flour-faced figures then enter banks and shops pretending to impose fines on shopkeepers and bankers.

They also poke fun at local dignitaries and read out humorous speeches.

It is believed the event originates in the ancient Feast of Fools - or Fiesta de los Locos - once part of the old Roman festival of Saturnalia.

This unusual festival - a day that many holidaymakers to the Costa Blanca may be unaware of - takes place annually on the day of the Holy Innocents, between Christmas and New Year.

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