Eid celebrations across Cumbria are building foundations for a stronger community.

People in Carlisle danced, ate, and socialised in an Eid celebration at Harraby Community Centre earlier this month.

Almost 100 people turned up to the celebration which marked the end of the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan.

It was organised by Awaz Cumbria as a way of bringing communities of different faiths and backgrounds together to celebrate Eid and embrace diversity.

“We discussed how we can work together with different communities and how we can support each other,” said Aftab Khan, development manager for Awaz Cumbria.

For some who have just moved to the area, it was a way of getting out into the city and planting their roots.

Mr Khan said: “It created the opportunity for people to understand and get to know each other - build relationships and community integration.”

Everyone was encouraged to bring food from their own culture - the resulting feast was a mixture of food from the Middle East, the UK, Bangladesh, and East Asia.

“It was a combination of all these smells, aromas, and tastes,” Mr Khan added.

They also read a poem by Benjamin Zephaniah called The British (serves 60 million).

The poem, which was translated into Arabic, explores how different cultures make up Great Britain and that through unity and understanding the country can flourish.

“That was very well received, people really enjoyed it,” he said.

There was also plenty of Dabke dancing, a traditional dance from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan.

A similar Eid celebration was also hosted in Whitehaven with more than 150 people taking part. As well as an abundance of food and dancing, there was nail painting, temporary glitter tattoos, and hair styling.