BURY'S police force organised their first-ever event in celebration of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah.

Bury Police station was transformed for an evening of reflection as officers recognised the eight-day wintertime "festival of lights".

Representatives from Bury's Jewish community gathered with members of the police force to celebrate the sixth night of Hanukkah on Friday, December 7.

Coordinator, Special Const Insp Moshe Rothstein, said: "This was the first time we held a Hanukkah event in Bury. It has become a really big event.

"Just as we celebrate Christmas, it is important we reflect on our Jewish community."

Between 20 and 30 people turned out to the gathering, including Jewish officers from across Greater Manchester Police."

Hanukkah, also called Chanukah, celebrates the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it was destroyed during the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire between 167-160 BCE.

Rabbi Dovid Eisenberg, the minister of The Shrubberies — Prestwich Hebrew Congregation, delivered a short talk to those gathered at the event last week to explain the meaning of the festival.

The Mayor of Bury, Cllr Jane Black, also attended the celebration and lit a candle of a candelabrum. This commemorates the Jewish belief that oil miraculously burned in the temple for eight days following the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks.

Supt Paul Walker, District Commander for Bury, said: "This was the first time we have had held a celebration at Bury Police Station to mark the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

"I feel this is very important in recognising and respecting the faiths and beliefs of all our diverse communities in Bury and our diverse workforce at Bury Police Station.

"We have a large Jewish community living in Bury who we work in partnership with on a daily basis.

"This event was well attended by a number of members of the local community and our partners from other emergency services."