Muslims from all over the north joined together in Keighley at the weekend to celebrate the birth of the prophet Muhammed.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 Muslims took part in the annual walk along a circular route through the town centre.

People travelled from Halifax, Bradford, Dewsbury, Sheffield and Rochdale to take part in Sunday's celebratory march, which was broadcast live on Keighley Festival Radio.

The now traditional procession, organised by Keighley Muslim Association, began at 12.30pm at the Jamia Mosque's entrance in Emily Street, before moving along Lawkholme Lane, Alice Street, left into North Street and then left again into Cavendish Street. After stopping for refreshments, the march then proceeded along the full length of Cavendish Street before turning into Bradford Road and finally into Parson Street, before finishing back at the Jamia Mosque.

General secretary Mahboob Alam said: "It was a very, very successful day and it was a very peaceful event that demonstrated the respect, love and understanding our prophet showed to all people.

"Keighley Muslim Association would like to thank all the local community groups and the police for all their help, and everyone who co-operated with this event. We hope this level of co-operation will continue in the future to make events like this a continuing success."

Following the walk, there were prayers, recitations of the Quran and lectures delivered on the life of Muhammed, led by Chief Imam Pir Abdul Ghaffar, Pir Sayed Basharat Hussain and Pir Said Maroof Hussain, from Bradford, who was one of the original driving forces behind the Emily Street mosque.

Professor Ahmed Hussain, from Halifax, spoke in English about the life of Muhammed and there were also speeches by Pir Zada Imdad Hussain, from Alkaram College in Nottingham, and Rasool Basgsh Saeedi, from Birmingham.

Refreshments, courtesy of Iqbal Catering, were served in the mosque after the march.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.