Get up close with these elephants as they soak crowds with their trunks during a mass water fight to bring in Thailand's Songkran new year.

The massive jumbos decorated with body paint were brought out to spray water on visitors to the ancient capital, Ayutthaya, 50 miles north of Bangkok.

Tourists and locals used water guns and buckets to splash the elephants, which appeared to be enjoying the chance to cool off in the 38C heat.

The elephants, which are used in Royal processions and are among the most well-bred in the world, doused the crowds with water sprayed from their massive trunks.

With the scorching sun reflecting from their glimmering ivory tusks, they came within inches of spectators. But with each elephant having been expertly trained for many years, they stayed calm during the festival. Some even balanced on their back legs and waves their feet.