Simcha on the Square

More than 25,000 people have attended the first celebration of Jewish culture to take place in London's Trafalgar Square which also marked the 350th anniversary of Jews being readmitted back to England.

The Simcha on the Square event organised by the Jewish Music Institute featured an afternoon and early evening's worth of Jewish music and entertainment.

Offering a mix of traditional Jewish music along with more modern sounds, the event highlight was a mass shofar blast.

Among those performing were Neshama, She'Koyokh Klezmer Ensemble and Sophie Solomon.

In a statement, London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "The London festival of Jewish culture on Trafalgar Square - Simcha on the Square - celebrating 350 years of Jewish life in London was a great success. All Londoners should understand the unique contribution of Judaism and Jewish individuals and organisations to human civilisation and culture. As Mayor of London I dedicate myself to helping all Londoners to understand this. I hope that we will now see an annual celebration of Jewish culture in Trafalgar Square so that all of our city's communities can enjoy the rich contribution of London's Jewish communities to this great city."