More than 200 people turned up to a special awards evening at the civic offices in Bexleyheath to celebrate the hard work and achievements of the borough’s faith groups.

The public was invited earlier this year to nominate projects that seek to make a difference and help others in their local communities.

More than projects ranging from foodbanks and community cafés to education and sports groups from a wide variety of faith groups were put forward for the awards.

The following seven winners were announced on the evening:

Outstanding Individual – Bhavan Patak (not pictured)

Outstanding Team – Salvation Army

Helping Others in the World – Mrs Joyce Smally and the Knitting Group

Cohesive Communities - Women Together

Healthy Communities – Guru Hargobind Sports Club

Supportive Communities – Evergreen Care Bexley

Successful Communities – Blue Sky Citadel

Chairman of Bexley Interfaith Forum, Reverend Trevor Wyatt said he was delighted with how the night went, dubbing it a "huge success."

"The atmosphere in there was so positive. It was a very uplifting experience for us right from the outset. "It was an evening to celebrate all the good work going on across the faith groups in Bexley," he said.

As Thursday's ceremony marked the inaugural Faith in Community awards, Rev Wyatt said that it was the hard work and dedication which he sees in volunteers, in places such as the Bexley Foodbank and the Bexley Winter Night Shelter, which gave him the idea for the awards.

"There's a lot of really good work going on and that's what sparked me when I was made chaplain a few months ago. To think, you know, perhaps there ought to be a bit more recognition, particularly for volunteers and unsung heroes."

The awards took place during the UK’s Inter Faith Week, which aims to strengthen good interfaith relations, increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK.