COMMUNITIES across Bradford are to host a series of events this weekend to mark the first anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox.

More than a dozen events will be taking place across the district as part of The Great Get Together, a weekend of celebrations aimed at bringing people together.

The MP for Batley and Spen died on June 16 last year outside a constituency surgery at Birstall Library after being shot and stabbed by far right extremist Thomas Mair, who was later handed a whole-life prison sentence for her murder.

The Jo Cox Foundation teamed up with The Big Lunch to create The Great Get Together in celebration of Mrs Cox’s belief that we all have more in common than that which divides us.

As a result tens of thousands of street parties, picnics and bake offs are expected to take place across the country between June 16 and 18 as communities come together.

Among the events are a number on Friday and Saturday in the Batley and Spen constituency and a party in London’s Olympic Park on Sunday.

In Bradford a Great Get Together picnic and fun day will take place in City Park on Sunday between noon and 4pm.

In addition the event will be followed by The Big Iftar from 8pm to 10pm, allowing those observing Ramadan to break their fast together.

Friends of Ilkley Lido are hosting a community picnic in The Grove on Sunday from noon until 3pm, and in Keighley, the Highfield food co-op is holding an Iftar party from 9.30pm at Sight Airedale in Albert Street.

Councillor Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: "It is great to see all these massive community picnics being held in the city and throughout the district.

"They have taken inspiration from Jo Cox's quote when she said we have more in common than that which divides us, and it is so true in Bradford. We have such a strong community spirit here and I'm sure everyone will thoroughly enjoy these great fun events."

Kim Leadbeater, Mrs Cox’s sister, has thrown herself into organising the Great Get Together, but said she is aware there are still difficult roads ahead.

She said: “There’s a lot of stuff that I still haven’t dealt with, and I guess that’s where maybe counselling or some advice on how to cope with that would come in.

“We have been so busy focusing on creating a legacy for Jo, which is exactly what we want to do, but that has to slow down at some point.

“I’ve had moments. I’ve broken down in tears at the traffic lights and I remember sitting on the steps at home at 4 o’clock in the morning just uncontrollably crying.

“But they have actually been quite sporadic and I think I need a bit more time to really understand what’s happened.”

She added that she does not waste a moment of her time thinking about Mair, preferring to channel her energy into “creating a positive legacy for Jo”.

For details of events click here.