Members of the public gathered at the heart of Darlington last weekend to take part in a peace vigil which was set up in response to the conflict between Palestine and Israel.
The mood was one of quiet reflection and respect at Darlington's Market Square on Sunday (October 15) as when around 60 people gathered for a vigil organised by Darlington for Peace.
Candles held by attendees lit up the early evening as speakers representing a wide spectrum of faiths addressed the crowd on issues of peace and democracy as well as the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel.
Read more: Palestine demonstration held at Durham City Marketplace
One of the people who helped pull together the event at "very short notice" was Martin Wood, who has been involved in Darlington for Peace since the early 2000s and is a Trustee of the Durham Palestine Education Trust.
Martin said: "The vigil was a response to the atrocities that have occurred in recent weeks. Both the Hamas attack on Israel and the catastrophic response of the Israeli's bombardment of Gaza.
"I was very pleased with the response, there were at least 50 to 60 people there from various communities standing together in peace.
"I hope that our vigil told those suffering that there are people that care."
John Howard, acting minister at Elm Ridge Church in Darlington, was one speaker at the event. John has spent time in Gaza and spoke "passionately" at the vigil.
He said there will be "no peace without justice" where prayers were then offered from the group.
Former Mayor of Darlington Cindi Hughes also attended the vigil, eventually leading the crowd that had gathered in a performance of Give Peace A Chance.
She said: "People have been feeling hopeless and helpless in this time of global debauchery. Normal people, I think, just want solutions where people can live in peace.
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"The vigil was just about us being humans together. It is crucial to have events like these in the times we are living in.
"We need to make sense of these things, and take personal action to strive for peace. By coming together, we can try and make sense of it all and remember that we have a role to play as peacemakers."
The next large scale event held by Darlington for Peace will be the groups annual peace walk, which will begin at the Quaker Meeting House on Skinnergate at 12:30pm on November 26.
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