Veggie-phobes may be interested to learn greens don't have to end up on the plate.

In Spain this summer the emphasis is more on fighting than food as thousands gather for the annual La Tomatina festival in the tiny village of Bunol.

This year the action takes place on August 27th as locals and tourists alike load up with ripe tomatoes for a fruit-flinging extravaganza that lasts two hours.

Rules for the salad battle are fairly straightforward - any tomatoes picked from the 125,000 kg arsenal must be squashed before thrown and no other projectiles, organic or otherwise, are allowed.

The bizarre festival allegedly dates back to a riotous restaurant food fight in 1945, which spilled out into the streets. The 'every man for himself' standard still rings true in the battle to this day, although potential enemies have increased thousand fold.

Bunol is located in the province of Valencia and approximately 38km west of the regional capital of the same name. It lies along the Bunol River and is surrounded by several mountain ranges.