  This paper presents theoretical HST and broad band colours from population
synthesis models based on an homogeneous set of stellar evolutionary tracks as
computed under canonical (no overshooting) assumptions, covering the range of
cluster ages from t=8 Myr to t=5 Gyr for three different metallicities (Z=0.02,
0.006, and 0.001). Statistical fluctuations in the cluster population have been
investigated, assessing the predicted fluctuations of the various colours as a
function of the cluster integrated absolute magnitude. We show that the red
leak in HST UV filters deeply affects the predicted fluxes and colours.
However, we find that for F152M-F307M < 0.5 and for F170M-F278M < 0.5 (which
means ages lower than 1 Gyr) the HST UV colours can still be used to infer
reliable indications on the age of distant clusters. Moreover, one finds that
the age calibration of these colours is scarcely affected by the amount of
original helium or by the assumed IMF. On this basis, we present a calibration
of the HST UV two-colours (F152M-F307M vs F170M-F278M) in terms of cluster ages
for the three above quoted metallicities. We suggest the combined use of HST UV
colours and IR colours (V-K in particular) to disentangle the metallicity-age
effect in integrated colours of young stellar populations (t< 1 Gyr).
