A COMMUNITY has welcomed people seeking asylum in County Durham with a meal.

The North East Liberal Jewish Community hosted the event along with other groups in Durham.

Volunteers from Durham Student Community Action (SCA) helped cook the meal, which was served to six recently arrived Syrian refugees at Waddington Street United Reformed Church.

Organiser Hava Fleming said: “An event like this brings so many people together. We were supported by our Jewish, Bahai, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Quaker, Chinese, Kurdish, Iraqi and Saudi friends, but I want to pay tribute to our host, the members of the Waddington Street United Reformed Church, who agreed to let us use their social hall, and whose members came in after their own Advent service to mix with our guests, the student volunteers and to support us.

“The volunteers moved around chatting and laughing, and everyone on both sides experienced a rare moment in life: to share and appreciate people who were normally not going to cross paths.”

Katie Stobbs, SCA coordinator, said: “All of the students loved being involved and all really enjoyed themselves. Our guests seem to have a lovely time too.”

The lunch was organised as part of Mitzvah Day – a Jewish day of social action.