Hundreds turn out for Southport's 'walk for unity'

The tradition sees different faith leaders walk with members of the community

A group of different religious leaders from Southport have led about 200 people in a "walk of unity" through the town.

Faith leaders and politicians started the tradition last year in a show of solidarity against hatred following riots in Southport, and across the UK, during which the town's mosque was attacked.

The mosque's chairman and imam Ibrahim Hussein said the turnout of people for the walk far exceeded his expectations.

"I am grateful, I am very excited to see that so many people can come together peacefully and exist with each other," he said.

The riots followed a knife attack at a dance school in the town in which three young girls were murdered.

Ibrahim Hussein says he was surprised by how many people turned out

Mr Hussein said the purpose of the walk was to bring the community together after the "hateful" incident and to make something good out of something bad.

"We will do our best to keep this tradition going," he said.

Retired Anglican vicar Graham Turner, who also took part in the walk, said he believed there was a "groundswell of concern about the town".

He said: "Here I think what we're finding is that there's quite a lot of folk who want to pull the same way and find some common bonds between us."