FRIENDS, families and strangers came together last weekend to enjoy the sunshine in the spirit of Jo Cox.

Around 300 people brought their packed sandwiches and picnics to Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom to be part of the Great Get Together.

The event, held nationally from Friday to Sunday, saw people all over Britain sit down to eat on the anniversary of Jo Cox’s murder.

Clare Cummins, aged 43, organised the Ramsbottom event with help from her friends after receiving an email from the Jo Cox Foundation.

Mrs Cummins said: “I just thought it was such nice idea.”

With help from her friends and the Friends of Nuttall Park, including Phil Dyer, Mrs Cummins went about renting the park and setting up the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party themed event.

On the day there were raffle prizes donated by local businesses, Helmshore Brass Band performed and local caters, Kayani Kitchen put on a spread

More than £500 in total was raised including a donation from Incredible Edible.

Mrs Cummins, of Whalley Road, Ramsbottom, said: “People brought homemade cakes to sell and it was a lovely day, the weather was really helpful.”

The Great Get Together was inspired by Jo Cox’s belief that people have more in common to unite them than differences which might divide them.

The family of Mrs Cox came up with the idea and charity The Big Lunch, which holds a similar annual event, moved their event to join in.

Mrs Cummins is keen to do something similar in the near future and said: “It’s the same thing as the Big Lunch so there would always be something to get on board with in future.

“With the money we raised we are going to put it back into the community.

“We’re not just going to do one event a year.

“We want to embrace our community, especially with the tragic events recently, we want to feel part of a community.”

Of the £500 raised, £100 will be donated to SKT Welfare, a humanitarian aid charity.

They chose the charity because of its record of work in Syria, an area of the world Mrs Cox was passionate about helping.

The remainder of the money will be used to help fund community days in Ramsbottom. There are already plans for a children’s play day in Nuttall Park on Wednesday, August 2.