The Japanese art of tea making is set to be showcased at a Carlisle museum.

A tea ceremony, language and calligraphy sessions along with kimono dressing and origami demonstrations are being brought to Tullie House Museum and Gardens as part of a Japanese Language and Cultural Show on July 2.

Members of Cumbria's Japanese community are aiming to give people an insight into their traditions.

Harumi Cavanagh, who moved to Britain 20 years ago to live with her husband who she met in America, is organising the event.

She is also one of about seven women and their families who will be taking part.

Harumi said: "In Cumbria we have a very small Japanese community: I think we have eight families.

"All the families, the husbands are British and the wives are Japanese.

"Each of us have some kind of skills we like to share in the community."

In the past they've held a cultural show in Carlisle and a tea ceremony in Alnwick, which were both well attended.

In 2001 a tea ceremony was held at Tullie House to celebrate the nationwide festival Japan.

Mrs Cavanagh, 60, of Roweltown, near Brampton, explained that tea ceremonies are a tradition in her country.

"It's quite a formal way to serve tea," she said. "Usually there is a process to serve tea starting from the preparation, making tea and then serving.

"In Japan we have a special school to teach how to make tea. It has become an art.

"It's not like ordinary tea drinking."

Visitors will also learn how to greet people in the language and how to write their name.

"We like to keep our traditions," added Mrs Cavanagh, who teaches Japanese at Newcastle University.

"We have a kimono wearing session because it's very difficult to wear a kimono, and I think the young generation has never learned how to wear a kimono."

The event, which is being sponsored by Newcastle University and the Japan Foundation, takes place at the museum, on Castle Street, between 1pm and 4pm.