MORE than 150 people gathered to put a spotlight on Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar.

An event at the Freedom Church in Walmersley Road and the group raised more than £500 to be sent to the charity Muslim Hands.

Muslim Hands is one of a number of British charities currently in Bangladesh supporting the hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar in 2017.

Ummrana Farooq, the organiser, said: "It was overwhelming how Bury community have come together to raise funds for this worthy cause and took time out to volunteer, spend money at this event, after seeing the fantastic support I will be more than happy to replicate this fundraising event in the near future.

"We are grateful to the volunteers who donated their time and effort and local businesses for their kind donations for the raffle prizes, to name a few were Skin & Laser Clinic Bury, Chicken Shaq, Chunky Chicken, Posh Cakes and many more."

Earlier this month, Muhammad Ismail of Muslim Hands, said: "We plan to supply food items, clothes, hygiene packs, solar street lights, walking sticks for the elderly. Mosquito nets are in dire need when the summer humidity comes.’

"Muslim Hands’ big well holds 5,000 litres and 6,000 people benefit from it daily for drinking and washing. We will build more of these.

"In the current circumstances we can have no strong hopes that these people will be returned safely to their home country.

"Our duty as individuals and charities and governments is to provide for them where they are, to make their life a little easier with whatever we can do and provide for their needs."