Hundreds of blondes on the march in Latvia

May 29, 2010, 14:31 GMT

Riga - Around 500 pink-clad blondes of all shapes and sizes put their best feet forward on the streets in the Latvian capital, Riga, Saturday as part of the city's annual 'Go Blonde' festival.

The cobblestones of the city's medieval Old Town echoed to the sound of stiletto heels as the blonde-only participants walked from Town Hall Square to the central Dome Square - led by a trio of blondes on horseback.

Behind them ranks of fair-haired beauticians, cabin crew and ordinary members of the public followed. A sprinkling of brunettes in blonde wigs - including several men - also managed to infiltrate the parade.

The number of participants was down on the organizers' initial estimates of 800 but thousands of enthusiastic onlookers still cheered the light-hearted procession, which aims to raise funds for children's charities.

Tourist Matthew Birch from Cheltenham, England was enthusiastic about the spectacle. Dressed as a bear despite soaring temperatures, he said he and his stag party colleagues could not believe their luck.

'We had no idea this was happening when we arrived. I think I must have died and gone to heaven,' he told the German News Agency