A COMMUNITY is being invited to come together in memory of those who have been killed in the Christchurch mosque shooting.

A memorial of silence is being held in Darlington on Monday, March 25 at 12.30pm at the Market Cross.

Hoping to attend will be Mayor Councillor Veronica Copeland as well as Darlington Borough Council Managing Director, Paul Wildsmith, and the Archdeacon of Auckland Rick Simpson.

Those who wish to attend are asked to meet at 12.15pm at the Market Cross for the silence which will begin at 12.30pm.

Darlington Councillor Gerald Lee, who has organised the meeting, said he was deeply saddened when he heard news of the shooting.

He said: "I feel that as a community we should stand silently together with our Muslim and ethnic minority groups to remember those killed and their family and friends.

"As Chair of Celebrating communities I would ask all people, irrespective of colour race or religion, to look at each other as people with the same fears, the same worries and the same ambition for their children.

"I believe that life's most important values are shared by the majority of people whereever one goes - these are the values of family, friendship, trust, loyalty honesty and integrity.

"It is these positive values that need to be recognised and appreciated and once these have been accepted hate crime will be dramatically reduced.

"If we all meet more together then this too will help remove the fear and suspicion between the people of the world and this, of course, includes Darlington."