AROUND 350 sat down to enjoy an 'Open Iftar' in Centenary Square tonight to recognise Ramadan and to bring faiths together with faith and inspirational speeches.

The gathering had been hosted by the Ramadan Tent Project and included a poem recital by Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, and speeches by Bradford West MP Naz shah and Manoj Joshi, chair of governors with Bradford Academy.

Mr Joshi said the event was to about equity, equality, humility, humanity and charity and how faiths should share love and compassion.

Ms Shah said it was a joy to join in an event in Centenary Square which was an occasion of happiness and sharing.

"It is the ethos of the project in bringing communities together.

"Humanity ties us together and that is what Islam really is. I want to thank the organisers for giving us that opportunity to be able to share our time and our space with our communities in Bradford and beyond."

Guests took part in prayers and then broke the fast together with food.

The Open Iftar event is a global campaign and has hosted more than 50,000 guests since it began.