CROWDS gathered to celebrate their neighbourhood on Sunday.

Our Community Festival was held in Barley Lane Recreation Ground, Barley Lane, Goodmayes.

Sponsored by the council’s Area Committee Five it saw residents, businesses and churches come together to celebrate their area.

Entertainment included pupils from Barley Lane Primary School performing African drumming, a medley of dance styles from the Wenn Stage School, Seven Kings, face painting and story telling, art displays from primary school pupils, singer Jenny Rix and other music groups, as well as a climbing wall and coaching from Barley Bowls Club.

There were stalls from a host of organisations including the Seven Kings Business Partnership, the Recorder (sponsored by Tesco, Goodmayes), the Chadwell Heath Historical Society, Brownies, Goodmayes and Seven Kings Allotment Society, Wenn Stage School, Chadwell Heath, Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents Association, Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Spartans Basketball Club.

St Paul’s Church Barley Lane held a community art exhibition, which also saw a steady stream of visitors.

Vicar Fr Ben Rutt-field “People seemed to enjoy engaging with the old and new work on display.

“The festival was good. The weather was a bit disappointing but it was busy and people came into the church to warm up.”