Hundreds of Dunedin residents are washing coloured corn starch from their clothes following a rainbow run in the city.

About 1200 people participated in the colourful event at Logan Park on Sunday.

Sport Otago is thrilled, saying numbers were well up on previous years.

Participants walked or ran a 5km circuit around the park, while volunteers hurled handfuls of coloured corn starch at them.

The event's intended to be a fun form of exercise.

It attracted people of all ages and also raised money for Sporting Chance, a programme helping disadvantaged children to play sport.

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