Town to celebrate first Day of the Dead festival

The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, Mexico, are a very colourful affair

A new festival in Staffordshire this weekend has been inspired by traditions rooted in Mexico.

The Day of the Dead celebration is being organised in Leek by arts organisation The Navel of The Moon, which was set up to promote Mexican culture.

The free event runs from 10:00 until 18:00 GMT on 2 November at Leek Trestle Market.

"Day of the Dead is one of the most beloved celebrations in Mexico," said Ale Bravo, founder and creative director of The Navel of the Moon.

"It's basically a celebration to remember all the loved ones who have passed, family and friends.

"It's nothing scary, or it's not really about being sad - of course we all go through grief, and it's a process - but it's mainly about celebrating life for the people who are still alive but also the life of the people that we love.

"Instead of being sad about them leaving, it's being happy about what they left in our hearts."

Ale Bravo says the event in Leek, the first of its kind, will be a celebration of Mexican culture

Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos also came to prominence when it was featured at the start of James Bond film Spectre, as well as being a significant theme in Pixar's Coco.

The event in Leek will include a parade as well as Mexican folk dance, Mexican food, a community shrine, dance workshops, storytelling, grief support and creative workshops.

Ms Bravo said Mexican people had a strong connection with death, and that it was not about being sad but more about seeing death as part of the cycle of life.

"The colour is making it light, and like a celebration, because we are celebrating life through death - it's something we are all going to experience."