Hundreds of people came together to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Israel at a Jewish community centre.

Dignitaries including MPs Iain Duncan Smith and Mike Gapes, as well as Mayor of Redbridge Cllr Linda Huggett, attended the Yom Haatzmaut event at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre last Thursday.

Children took part in Israeli themed arts and crafts before entertaining the community with performances including Israeli dancing and choir performances from children at Clore Tikva Primary School, Wohl IJPS and readings from KS pupils.

Those of all ages closed the evening by joining in dancing to music played by the Yossi Yoffe Band.

Mr Duncan Smith said: “I was enormously pleased to be invited to be here today and celebrate with the community.

“This is a dual celebration; a celebration of the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people, which was and still is a remarkable achievement and a celebration of Jewishness which is something that those of us who feel strongly in condemning anti-Semitism are proud to celebrate”

Based in Sinclair House, Woodford and run by charity Jewish Care, the Redbridge Jewish Community Centre is the largest of its kind in Western Europe.

The centre provides social, welfare, education and community programmes to more than 2,000 people from the borough’s Jewish community every month.

Centre manager Graham Freedman,said: “We were delighted and honoured to be joined by such a significant number of guests at what has become a really special annual communal event, celebrating Israel’s independence whilst bringing people of all ages from the local community together”.