A multi-faith organisation is holding a fair next month to promote social cohesion in the wake of the referendum.

Waltham Forest Faith Communities Forum will hold its third annual faith fair in Walthamstow Town Square on Saturday, August 13.

Organiser Canon Steven Saxby says the event is called Building Bridges in the wake of a reported rise in hate crimes after last month’s EU referendum.

He said: “We feel building bridges is an important theme in terms of the tensions in the world and in our country at the moment.

“Our community forum has responded to different things over the years and certainly this is a very troubling time to hear there is indeed a rise in hate crimes.

“We as the faith communities need to step up our efforts at this time to let people know that we value their presence here.

“Many members of our community are EU migrants and we cannot allow them to be subjected to racism.”

Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr Peter Herrington, will attend the fair.

The event will involve various faiths coming together to sing and read from different religious books.

Waltham Forest Faith Communities Forum, which was founded in 2002, includes members form Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Baha’i.

Wendy Smith, a Buddhist member of the group, said it is a misconception that the different faiths in Waltham Forest do not work well together.

She said: “I think Building Bridges is an apt title for the event.

“It is a myth that we do not get on.

“We do get on but people don’t often see it that way.

“I am really looking forward to this year’s event. It is always great to get together and to enjoy the entertainment.”

The event will take place from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, August 13, in Walthamstow Town Square.