CROWDS of people turned out to for a festival celebrating diversity in the community.

Cumbria Unity Festival returned in full force this weekend in four venues supporting and encouraging people of all backgrounds and communities to come together and celebrate.

The event was held in Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal and at the Harbour Fest in West Cumbria under the theme of The Power of Unity.

Each Unity Festival provides a unique space and welcomes people of all communities and backgrounds to meet, converse, learn, have fun, explore new ideas, find understanding and build connections with each other.

Barrow's contribution to Unity Festival took place on Saturday.

Kicking off just before noon, the festival featured a fully inclusive diversity parade on Dalton Road and an International food tasting area with a range of free world foods to sample, including Caribbean, African, Brazilian, Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, Afghani, Syrian, Chinese, Indian, Turkish, Albanian and Greek.

Local talent played across the day on the main live music stage, including Bethan McAllister, The Immortals and JD and Swerve.

And inside the Forum there was several workshops such as VR Headsets, arts and crafts, DJ and songwriting sessions, Henna, hair braids, information stalls and health and well-being advice.

Guy Tirvengadum, Chair of AWAZ Cumbria, and Chair of Cumbria Unity Festival, said: "The Cumbria Unity Festivals not only celebrate diversity but are a great opportunity to help build unity in our community."

The very first Cumbria Unity Festival was held in Carlisle in 2016-hosted by AWAZ Cumbria and supported by a wide range of statutory and third-sector organisations.