A CLEAN-UP operation was underway followed the weekend’s charity Rainbow Run in Poole, after a few dogs ended up almost as colourful as the runners who took part.

Sunday’s event across Baiter and Whitecliff parks saw some 1,800 people being pelted with buckets of colourful powdered paint as they made their way around the 3k course.

The race, Dorset’s first, was expected to raise as much as £30,000 for children’s hospices Naomi House and Jacksplace. But it left behind large patched of red, yellow, blue and green paint which have stained a number of dogs.

One such was the pet of Bob Lister which ended up a shade of green following a walk at Whitecliff on Sunday.

The former chairman of the Friends of Poole Park told the Echo he had twice washed his cockapoo Meg but couldn’t get the colour out.

While the charity has offered to cover the cost of a professional wash he told the Echo he felt the council had made a mistake in allowing the event. “Some friends who live nearby had their cars covered in paint as well,” he added.

Ann Godson's Old English Sheepdog Archie ended up with coloured paws during a walk yesterday (Monday).

The Parkstone resident said: "I don’t mind as long as I can get it off."

One reader emailed the Echo to say that their dog, Muffin was also feeling the after effects. They wrote: "She ran through both red and yellow paint and this was the result

Bournemouth Echo:

"We thought it was funny at the time, but it wasn't so funny when we got back to the car and realised it didn't brush out. Nor did little Muffin see the funny side when it didn't wash out in the bath afterwards.

"She's still yellow today."

Another dog walker said: “One Labrador which was rolling around in it and ended up pink. As long as it’s not harmful to the dogs I’m not bothered.”

Yesterday the charity had a van in the area on clean-up duty. Keith Wilson, marketing manager at Naomi House, said where there were issues they would ‘seek to put it right’ and apologised to residents for any inconvenience.

He added: “The paint is water soluble. We are wetting it down to try to disperse it and that is working quite well – that is all we can do until the weather does its bit.”

He said they had anticipated the issue and installed barriers around the paint stations –but but due to the wind blowing inland, not all of the paint had been contained.

Anthony Rogers, recreation and community manager, Borough of Poole, said they worked closely with organisers "to ensure the powder was safe, washable and fully biodegradable" and requested 'paint stations' to limit the spread.

He added: “As agreed, the event organisers are responsible for the clean-up and will continue this until affected areas are cleared. We will continue to monitor any feedback and consider this for any future events.”