​A PARADE of glow-sticks lit a trail around a Derby park in a celebration of the city’s different faiths.

As visitors walked around the path at the Arboretum, in Normanton, on Saturday evening, nov 21 they found decorated stalls which plotted a history of different religions in the area.

Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Sikhism, Muslim, Baha’i and Pagan religions all had their own stall, complete with people staffing them and explaining about the collections of objects and books on show.

Mohammed Ramzan, 40, was there with his children. Mr Ramzan, of Shamrock Street, Normanton, said: “My child goes to Arboretum School and she saw it advertised there.

“They have done a really good job making it look good.”

Steve Endsor, 62, was helping to run the Christianity stall and said the event would help to introduce people to religions.

Mr Endsor, of Chaddesden, said: “There is a lot more to religion than what makes the news headlines.

“Extremists and terrorists are a  minority and an event like this can show people what different faiths can offer and how they can exist together.”

Organiser Janet Tristram said: “The idea was that people would be able to walk through the faith history of the world and, through that, see how diverse Derby is.

“It has given people the opportunity to understand more about  faiths around them.”

Ms Tristram, 50, organised the event through the Forum of Faiths.

She said it was the biggest event the group has organised and was funded through Derby Community Safety Partnership, which awarded the group £2,500 to put on the  show.

Based at the St James’ Centre, in Malcolm Street, Normanton, the forum runs an assortment of research projects to make people aware of how many different religious beliefs there are in Derby by holding educational lessons at the centre and hosting events out in the community.

Sanjukta Sahu, 42, was visiting the parade with her family and said she had heard about the event through the St James’ Centre.

She said: “The whole thing is quite easy to walk around and take in. The stalls are well put together and it is easy to learn about the different beliefs.”

Anna Gautama, from the Forum of Faith, was running the Hindu stall.

She said: “We have tried to make this a trip through the history of faiths around Derby. People start out with Pagan religion, moving through faiths one at a time.

“It gives us the chance to show people what our religions have to offer.”