"Pink snow" in Stockholm triggers health panic

Dec 16, 2010, 9:28 GMT

Stockholm - Sightings of pink snow Wednesday across part of the Swedish capital Stockholm sparked anxious calls to local city authorities - before it emerged the colour was harmless, local media said Thursday.

A running club, Stockholm Hash House Harriers, said they had marked sections of a trail for an upcoming so-called Hare and Hounds race.

There were initial fears that the colour indicated the substance was rat poison.

The colour was made from a mix of water colour paints and ink for computer printer cartridges. Although not dangerous, people were advised not to taste the snow, the local city environmental office said.

The Hash House Harrier movement traces its origins to the 1930s when it was founded by a group of British expatriates in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Organisers - or hares - lay a trail and the hounds - other participants - try to follow it. At the end of the race the participants are awarded with a beer or other prizes.

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