LED suits worn by hundreds of runners transform dark urban landscapes into a riot of colour and movement as part of an innovative project fusing art and sport

Hundreds of joggers, wearing special suits with LED lights attached, will be creating a human work of art outside the Lowry Theatre in the former industrial docklands of Salford Quays in Greater Manchester for three nights.

About 400 runners took part in a dress rehearsal for the performance entitled Speed of Light.

Created by public arts charity NVA, the display uses cutting edge technology to turn runners into human fireflies, attaching a series of LEDs to the joints, limbs and heads of moving bodies as they move in choreographed patterns set to a specially commissioned musical accompaniment.

The suits worn are individually controlled from a central system that can instantaneously change colour, flash rate and luminosity, producing stunning light patterns made by the choreographed actions of massed joggers.

The runners’ route takes them along the canal banks, bridges and public spaces near The Lowry, The Imperial War Museum North and the new Media City complex, home of BBC North.

Starting as NVA’s response to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Speed of Light fulfilled a desire to elevate non-elite distance and endurance running to the realms of the extraordinary.

It premiered on Arthur’s Seat as part of the Edinburgh International Festival with 4,000 hill runners taking part over 21 nights

The first show took place last night and runs until tomorrow evening. Collaborating with local choreographers and runners in each country it visits, Speed of Light will be travelling to new locations worldwide.