MUSICIANS and dancers from around the world performed as York’s International Festival Of Faith And Culture got into full swing.

A stage in Parliament Street hosted performances by Chinese instrumentalist Xicheng Li, York City Gospel Choir, Turkish music and dance groups, English folk bands and African drummers on Saturday as the festival began.

The event also featured puppet and Arabic fashion shows, face-painting, storytelling, henna art and badge-making, as well as information stalls by groups representing different faiths, churches, communities and organisations and speakers from faith groups and places of worship.

The festival was co-ordinated by Higher York, a partnership between the city’s universities and colleges and City of York Council.

The Rev Lukas Njenga, the festival’s chair and York St John University’s chaplain, said: “The day marks the beginning of an open dialogue where people will seek to understand and support each other and sensitively respect each other’s differences and uniqueness.”