Puppet brings 'message of hope' after disorder

Crowds welcomed Little Amal to Pearson Park in Hull as part of the Yorkshire Integration Festival

A puppet depicting a 10-year-old Syrian refugee toured a Hull park on Sunday.

The Little Amal puppet is visiting cities around the world as part of The Walk project, which is designed to draw attention to the plight of child refugees.

The visit to Pearson Park, part of the Yorkshire Integration Festival, took place less than two months after disorder in Hull on 3 August, in which a hotel housing refugees was targeted.

Hull City Council leader Mike Ross: "The fact that she's coming to Hull after the horrible events that took place here a few weeks ago is a really positive message for the people of the city."

Ross said: "Hull is a City of Sanctuary. It's a welcoming place. It's a place of really friendly people.

"I think the message of hope and compassion is one that we need to be reminded of."

Although the tour was planned several months before the unrest on 3 August, Ross said the timing of the visit showed the puppet brought "a message that we do need to hear".

Tracey Seaward described those with a negative view of refugees as "a minority"

Tracey Seaward, one of the directors of the Little Amal project, is originally from Hull.

She said the visit was an opportunity for people to "come out, to stand up and say we are with you, we support you, you are welcome here," to refugees.

Ms Seaward said it was important to see a "change in narrative" and for Hull residents to demonstrate they "respect people, treat them with compassion, and treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve".

She added it was an "amazing opportunity to be back in Hull" to present the project, which she described as a "labour of love", and to "show our team what an amazing city it is".

The Amal puppet is 12ft (3.7m) tall and is operated by three people