A festival of food came to New Addington last weekend as residents from different backgrounds came together to celebrate their cultural diversity.

Over a thousand people attended the People's Day at Milne Park playing fields last Saturday where they enjoyed a variety of national dishes and a talent contest.

Event organiser Hawa Koroma said: “It was fantastic, we must have had nearly 1,500 people turn up but there were so many people that we lost count.

“I am definitely planning on doing this event again next year.”

Hawa, 60, first organised the event last year after she was determined to fight back against the racial abuse and intimidation which she experienced.

At one point she had live rats posted through her letter box and received threatening phone calls in the middle of the night.

Paul Gaye, a member of the organising committee, said: “We are all delighted at the way this event has grown from its inception last year.

“This year more countries were represented, there were more dishes served and I am confident that it will grow year on year.”

Hawa, who is originally from Sierra Leone, cooked a popular West African dish called Jallof Rice.

She said: "Where I come from, we often cook large meals as a peace offering if there has been an argument.

“This day is all about bridging gaps between people."