A SPECIAL event was held to belatedly mark International Women's Day this afternoon.

The lunch at the Banqueting Suite, City Hall, was originally arranged for March 8, which is International Women's Day, but had to be called off due to snowy weather.

It was hosted by the former Lord Mayor of Bradford Abid Hussain and his wife Shahnaz Akhtar.

The guest speaker was Gill Arnold JP, who is Deputy Chairman of the West Yorkshire Magistrates' Bench and founder of Bradford Community Champions.

Speaking about the event, she said: "It went really well.

"It was wonderful, it's just a lovely event."

The community champions scheme sees local people from different walks of life visit schools and talk to pupils about how they have made a success of their lives.

They include Bradford Coroner Martin Fleming, West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Dee Collins, Judge Jonathan Rose and others.

The aim of the initiative is to try and change the attitude and the way some students feel about education.

More information on the work of Bradford Community Champions can be found online through the Education Covenant and Bradford Council.