MORE than 700 people have signed up to be pelted with paint at a technicolour fundraising event.

With more than a month to go, the Colourama event has already raised more than £16,000 for St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham.

The five-kilometre sponsored walk takes place at Aykley Heads in Durham on June 6. Participants begin with a white T-shirt and have non-toxic powder paint thrown over them every kilometre until they end in a kaleidoscope of colours.

Senior community and events fundraiser, Sheela Joy said: “We couldn’t be happier with the response we’ve had so far.

“It’s going to be a fantastic event. We’ve had over 770 registrations – including 200 children - and we’re still over a month away from June 6.

“The local community are really getting behind Colourama, and they’ve already started sending in sponsorship.”

She added: “We’ve been overwhelmed by how much support the hospice is receiving because of Colourama.

“We send out sponsorship forms to every participant in a registration pack and we’ve already been asked for more by people who have filled up the first ones.

“People are taking sponsorship forms to their workplaces, schools and families and we’re so pleased that they want to support our cause.

“We want our supporters to know that any amount of sponsorship raised will make a difference to the vital support we can provide in our community and at St Cuthbert’s Hospice.”

Among those signing up is James Hewitt, of Chester-le-Street, whose parents both received end-of-life care at St Cuthbert’s.

He is taking part in the walk with his eight-year-old daughter Jessie.

Mr Hewitt said: “We are both very much looking forward to going to Colourama. It looks like it will be a great day out.”