PEOPLE of all faiths and backgrounds are invited to take to the streets in a call for peace later this month.

Last year, a diverse crowd embarked upon Darlington’s inaugural Walk for Peace, visiting a number of places of worship in a show of solidarity.

The event, hailed as a huge success by organisers, was launched in a bid to combat racial tension and promote peace between communities and people of all cultures.

Organisers have now announced the return of the Walk for Peace, which will set off from the Friends Meeting House on Skinnergate at 12.30pm.

It will be held on Saturday, November 27 and will stop at venues including St Augustine’s Church, the Bondgate Methodist Church, St Cuthbert’s Church, the Sikh Gurdwara, the Atisha Kadampa Buddhist centre and the Jamia Mosque.

The event will end at the Dolphin Centre, where a representative of the British Humanist Association will deliver a speech.

Darlington man Matthew Snedker is one of the group of people who launched the Walk for Peace initiative.

He said: “We became aware that there has been an increase in racial tension and knew of hate crime incidents that had happened in the town.

“We were aware of tensions pre-referendum and of messages coming out of certain areas of the media who are stoking the fire.

“We wanted to make a stand and give people the opportunity to do something positive, it’s a walk that stands for peace.

“This is not an anti-war march – rather than walk against something, we’re working for something.

“It’s an opportunity for people to say I am standing for something positive and for us to come together as a community and promote strong relationships between all of our different faith groups and people of no faith.

“We often hear from the spokespeople representing faiths but this allows everyone to come along and join in.

“Some places of worship are too far away for us to get to during the walk but people of all faiths and none are welcome.”

He added: “We were really overwhelmed by the response last year, the strength and goodwill that came out of it was fantastic.

“We are hoping this year’s event will be bigger and better.”

The event also represents one of the last engagements in Darlington for Rev Robert Williamson from St Cuthbert’s Church, who leaves his role later this month.

For more information, visit the Darlington for Peace group on Facebook.