A SEA of people carrying colourful banners and flags paraded through High Wycombe today, as Muslims gathered to celebrate Holy Day.

The celebration was held to mark Mawlid An-Nabi and the birth of the Prophet Mohammed – with peace, community cohesion and love thy neighbour the theme of this year’s message.

An open top bus decorated with flags, messages and balloons led hundreds of worshippers from the Jubilee Road Mosque, through Desborough and into the High Street for prayers underneath the Guildhall.

The Rev. David Picken and Minister Laurence Smy from All Saints Church were also invited to say a few words to the gathered crowd as part of the Hold Day festivities.

Rev Picken called the invitation to address the crowd “an honour” and went on to hail the relationship between the two faiths in High Wycombe.

Zafar Iqbal, chairman of the Wycombe Islamic Mission and Mosque Trust, said: “It has been a wonderful celebration, the weather was great so we have had an amazing turnout.

“It was extremely pleasing to see a lot of young children and young families on the parade.

"It was also great to non-Muslims taking an interest because it is a community event.

“It is a celebration of the prophet and one of the prophet’s teachings is to love your neighbours, whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim.

“So to have Rev Picken and young families with us today, it really is a community celebration.”

Muslims from as far afield as London and Aylesbury flocked to take part in the 23rd annual parade, watched by dozens of fascinated shoppers who were handed sweets and leaflets explaining the celebration.

The parade then headed back to the Jubilee Road Mosque for further prayers, where Wycombe MP Steve Baker joined in with the celebrations.