AN EVENT to mark International Day of Peace was held in the city for the first time.

Worcester City Council helped organise the event, which was held in Cathedral Square, Worcester on Saturday (September 21).

Worcester's mayor, Mel Allcott, said: "It was lovely to see so many people thinking about and focusing on peace in Worcester.

"I am very proud that in our city we come together, build bridges across our communities and spread the message of love, not hate."

The event included choir singing, poems and speeches while participants joined in a global minute of silence to mark the occasion.

Worcester city councillor Jabba Riaz said: "Thank you to everybody who attended and contributed to making the first peace day in Worcester a success.

"There has never been a better time to come together and unite in a call for peace across the world.

"It was brilliant to see people uniting on peace day under the umbrella of humanity.

"The event reflected the city council’s objective of bringing together communities of all faiths and backgrounds."

Prior to the event, a mural was painted at Cripplegate Park by participants in the Worcester Paint Festival - incorporating a dove and olive branch to signify peace.