JEWISH people in Oxford have been celebrating the Chanukah festival of light.

Each year the Chabad – or Jewish community – lights a 12-foot long candlestick called the menorah in Oxford’s Broad Street.

Rabbi Eli Brackman, director of the Oxford Chabad, said: “This festival symbolises the triumph of light over dark.”

The ceremony commemorates the revolution against Greek oppression by the Jewish Maccabees in the second century BC.

Jewish holy text the Talmud recounts how, in a rededication ceremony of the Jewish temple following the revolt, there was only enough oil to burn in the candelabra for one day, but miraculously it burnt for eight.

Each night this week at 5pm, an extra candle on the menorah is lit, until all are lit at the final lighting tomorrow.

The festival began on Saturday at 5pm, and continues until Sunday at 5pm.