CANDLES were lit in Bradford yesterday in memory of people murdered because they were transgender.

The emotional event at City Hall was held yesterday to mark the International Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Members of the public were invited to light a flame of remembrance and sign a special book in memory of those around the world who were killed because they were seen as being different. There were 1,233 reported murders of transgender people in 59 countries worldwide between January 2008 and April 2013.

Bradford Council and local group Trans+ve teamed up to hosted the day of remembrance, after the success of a similar event last year.

Staff from the business, health, housing, education and criminal justice sectors went along to find out about how they could make their organisations more welcoming for transgender people.

Councillor Imran Hussain, deputy leader of Bradford Council, said: “All forms of discrimination are abhorrent and this event is designed to promote better understanding and respect for people from the transgender community.”