Thousands celebrate Eid al-Fitr across region

Many people attended the Faizan-e-Madina mosque in Stechford earlier

Thousands of Muslims across the West Midlands have been celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Prayers were held in mosques across the region including in Small Heath and at Faizan-e-Madina in Stechford, volunteer Waheed Iqbal said.

However, Green Lane mosque in Birmingham said it had made the "difficult decision" to cancel planned outdoor prayers at Small Heath Park and Edgbaston Cricket Ground because of waterlogged grounds and more heavy rain forecast.

Eid marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan and is therefore a feast day, as well as a religious holiday, and is often marked by family celebrations, gifts and gatherings.

Imam Mohamed Kaleem said it was important for Muslims to congregate for Eid

Imam at Faizan-e-Madina mosque in Stechford, Mohamed Kaleem, said: "It's important for Muslims, especially the males of the household, to come and congregate in the house of Allah.

"This salah, this prayer, is a means of showing gratitude, shukr, to our creator Allah almighty.

"So it's necessary for us to come here to offer our shukr and then we depart to our homes."

Prayers took place at Faizan-e-Madina mosque in Stechford but a number of outdoor gatherings in Birmingham were cancelled

Mohamed Ramzan, from Kitts Green, brought along his family, dressed as tradition dictates, in new clothes.

He said: "It's a really nice time. We're going to go home and have some good food with our families. It's a special day."

Volunteer, Mr Iqbal said: "We did anticipate to do four prayers, but because of the popularity and maybe that people are on holiday as well...we had to accommodate and put another extra prayer on."