Events, including kosher cooking and a peace exhibition, have been organised by Northampton Inter Faith Forum to mark the week.

Forum treasurer, and the town's Sikh community leader Amarjit Atwal, hopes the programme of events will help rebuild a sense of community within the town.

He said: "It's quite significant that all the faiths are coming together, supporting each other to put on events for the whole week.

"Faith communities put on public events throughout the year but this is the first week-long inter-faith celebration and there will be activities for all ages.

"Inter-faith involvement in the community is something that has to develop, and it is something that only the faith groups can do. Building that harmony is not something the council or police could do; it has to come from the communities themselves."

A children's art exhibition will take place at the Guildhall until Wednesday as part of the celebrations, displaying contributions from children in the local Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities.

The Rev Dr Ted Hale, Forum secretary, said: "Northampton is a town where there are basically good inter faith relationships but they exist between a relatively small group of people, simply because there have been limited opportunities to meet.

"Part of the aim for the week is to increase respect, understanding and friendship between faith groups."

Events have been boosted by a significant grant from Northampton Community Foundation, he added.

For more details visit www.north amptoninterfaithforum.org.uk