Flags from around the world were flying in Carlisle for a celebration of cultural diversity.

Hundreds of people gathered at Richard Rose Central Academy for the return of Culture Bazaar, which took place again today for the first time in five years.

The day-long festival featured as many as 40 performances, workshops and demonstrations throughout the day including Egyptian belly dancing, Ceilidh dancing, Tai Chi, and Thai and Syrian cookery demonstrations.

There was also a string of stall holders including One World Shop, Henna By Samina, Philipino Products and Ayaan's Asian Sweets.

Founder Saj Ghafoor was pleased with the turnout.

"It has just been amazing," she said. "People kept asking for the last five years. It takes a lot to organise because we are all volunteers. We have got a fantastic management team.

"I was hoping [for a good turnout] and we have worked quite hard on social media promoting the event but you never know until the doors open."

What started in 2007 as an event to mark Eid - a religious Muslim festival - rapidly expanded to become a celebration of cultures, religions and races from across the world.

The first was held at Greystone Community Centre before a move to Trinity School for three years and then again to Richard Rose Central Academy, where it took place until 2013.

"We had organised Eid events and we really wanted to get the Muslim community together but we actually invited all our customers and 125 people came along," said Mrs Ghafoor, who owns HDM Spice Shop, in Brook Street.

"That is when we realised a lot of people wanted to know about different cultures.

"Then we set up a community group and started applying for funding."

Lama Kinaan, 32, moved to Carlisle from Syria less than a year ago to live with her husband Feras Alkadamani, a GP who has lived her for about 14 years.

She has been volunteering with Cumbria County Council to help with Syrian refugees.

Already, she said she enjoys everything about living in the city.

"The most important thing is the friendly people in Carlisle. They are so welcoming to foreign people," she said.

"I think events like this are important for everyone to come together.

"Now, I can met people from anywhere and from many cultures, and that makes it feel like home."

Daphne and William Mark, of Cumwhitton, near Carlisle, practice Tai Chi at Eastern Kung Fu Club and went along to support other members who were performing.

Mrs Mark, 57, said: "I think it's interesting to find out how many different cultures there are around in the city and surrounding areas.

"I used to work at Richard Rose Central Academy so I know about the young people who are part of the school community and it's an expansion of that."

Dr Pradumna Jamjute was with his wife Renu and their sons Somesh, 15, and 10-year-old Chaitanya.

The family, who come from India, moved to Cockermouth little over a month ago.

“We are very new to this place,” said Dr Jamjute. “We wanted to look at the multicultural society and what they are doing here and how things are going.”

Aliveni Ramanujam, 49, of Cockermouth, has lived in Cumbria for six years and was keen to experience the festival.

She moved to the UK from India in 2000 and moved to Cockermouth from the Midlands in 2011.

Ms Ramanujam, a counseller for Mind, said: "It is nice to know there is an event like this because we were aware of the local community but this gives us a little bit more."