The cricket project supporting female refugees

The event included people from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

A project to help displaced women learn to play cricket has been set up in Somerset.

The OMAID project aims to provide a community space to support physical and mental wellbeing.

Somerset Cricket Foundation and charity Diversity Voice are working together to help teach the sport.

The chief executive of Diversity Voice Natalie Dyson said: "OMAID is a Persian word which means hope and we wanted to bring people together through sport."

Natalie Dyson is the CEO of charity Diversity Voice which helped set up the project

A group of refugees and asylum seekers recently took part in a match on St Matthew's Field, Bridgwater, to highlight world refugee day.

The event, called Cooking, Conversation and Cricket, had people from several countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, taking part.

Ms Dyson added: "While people are waiting for their visas they feel unsettled so we think it's important to get them out into the community to give them something to focus on."

Umanga from Sri Lanka took part in the game in Bridgwater and said the event "made her very happy" and described it as "a wonderful day."

The project has been set up with funding from the Warm Spaces initiative.

The women have been attending cricket training sessions at the Junction 24 Auction Centre in North Petherton.

Natalie Dyson added: "It's been amazing to see people from different cultures and with different languages and religions come together in harmony to play as one team."

It is hoped the project will continue to grow and develop, with the ladies' keen to find local fixtures in the summer.