Flour wars: Greece and Spain celebrate end of carnival season and start of Orthodox Lent

'Ash Monday' or 'Clean Monday' celebrations are a way of using up leftover flour before the fasting period begins.

The seaside town of Galaxidi, Greece exploded into a chaotic and colourful flour war as part of 'Ash Monday' or 'Clean Monday' celebrations on 27 February, marking the end of carnival season and the start of the Greek Orthodox Lent.

The celebrations see groups of residents pelt each other – and visitors – with bags of dyed flour. Like Pancake Day in Britain, this is a way of using up flour before the fasting period. A flour fight was also seen on the streets of Laza, Spain, as residents celebrated into the night during the 'O Entroido' festival, which also marks the end of the carnival season. In this gallery, IBTimesUK presents some of the best photos from the flour wars across Greece and Spain: