A 72-HOUR Bible reading marathon took place over the Easter weekend to celebrate the most important event in the Christian calendar.

People of all ages, from local churches and from the community, gathered at the Lakes Christian Centre in Windermere to recite the Bible from the start of the Old Testament to the end of the New Testament. The reading began on Maundy Thursday, March 24 at 10am and finished in time for the Easter service on Sunday March 27 at 10am.

Organiser Tim Berry said: "It was very well received by the local community, we got so much positive feedback and were were so pleased with that.

"We were honoured to have Tim Farron, our MP, Richard Rhodes, the police and crime commissioner for Cumbria, and Sam Rayner, the high sheriff of Cumbria, come to read a section over the weekend.

"With it also being Easter weekend we were thrilled and amazed to find an abundance of holiday makers who wanted to read as well."

Pastor Mike Horsman and the organisers were delighted to have roughly 150 people come in to read the 15-, 30- or 60-minute slots. 

The event also attracted more vulnerable people to hear the word of God and the Christian Centre was able to emulate some of the most important values that Jesus Christ taught. 

Mr Berry said: "On the Saturday evening we actually had three homeless people come to the church. They shared a meal with us, read from the Bible and stayed the night. It was really lovely actually, we became rather good friends."

All at the Lakes Christian Centre hope to repeat the event at some stage in the future, whether it be at Easter or another religious festival. One of the most important things about the reading was for the Christian community to celebrate the fact that they have the privilege and freedom to  read God's word in public. 

Mr Berry said: "There are Christians in other countries who are persecuted for reading from the Bible or punished for practising the Christian faith and we wanted to celebrate the fact that we are able to act freely when it comes to our faith. This was made only too potent when we heard of the devastating events that took place in Pakistan on Easter Sunday, it was upsetting for us all."