DARLINGTON’S community will come together in a show of solidarity as they walk for peace later this month.

People from a variety of cultures and backgrounds will visit seven venues on their three-mile walk around the cultural, community and religious hubs of the town.

The annual Walk for Peace is organised as a stand against hatred and “as a way of sending a strong message of partnership”.

By bringing people together by way of the multi-faith promotion of peace, the event’s organisers aim to show the willingness of Darlington’s diverse communities to support each other.

On Sunday, November 26 at 12.30pm, it will set off from the Friends Meeting House on Skinnergate, the home of the town’s Quaker community.

Participants will then walk to St Augustine’s Church, from there to the Bondgate Methodist Church and on to the Jamia Mosque.

They will reach St Cuthbert’s Church at around 2.05pm before heading to the Sikh Gurudwara Sahib on Louisa Street, where they will join Sikh worshippers in a free meal, provided in a bid to keep walkers’ strength up for the remainder of their journey.

The walk’s penultimate stop will be at the Atisha Kadampa Buddhist Centre and it aims to end at the Dolphin Centre shortly before 4pm.

All are welcome to join the walk, with people being invited to join in at any stage as it winds its way between places of worship and community hubs.

Now in its third year, the event was created in opposition to racism and in response to a rise in hate crime, locally and nationally.

Organiser Matthew Snedker said supporters were still committed to standing against prejudice.

He said: “The sad truth is that a minority of people are driven by fear and mistrust to commit hate crimes.

“The rise in religion and race related attacks is of constant concern.”

Mr Snedker said the event was making a difference by bringing people together, adding: “It is a real pleasure to be putting together the Walk for Peace in 2017.

“We have made a real difference to so many people.

"Friendships have been made and a strong community has been forged in our town.”

For more information, visit Walk for Peace 2017 on Facebook.