Children got their hands stuck in clay and covered in henna as part of a celebration to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali.

Among the activities going on in Oxfordshire to mark the festival of lights was a morning of celebration at Donnington Doorstep Family Centre, in Townsend Square, on Wednesday.

Youngsters made clay holders for candles, coloured in images of Hindu characters and deities, and had their hands painted with traditional henna patterns.

Belinda Palmer, from Littlemore, brought her daughter Madeline, four, to get stuck in.

Mrs Palmer said: “She absolutely loved it – although she’s got a bit of henna on her face so I think people will think I’ve been self-tanning my daughter!

“She’s a bit small to really understand what was going on, but it’s nice to introduce it and I think the children’s centre did it in a really good way for that specific age group, so she was learning through play.”

Elly McLean, aged two years and eight months, of Temple Cowley, was trying her hand at making candleholders.

Her mum Snejana McLean said: “She absolutely enjoyed it. She thinks she’s designed for it, she just loves things like that. We had a great time.”

Oxford Hindu Temple and Community Centre Project will hold a Diwali dinner dance at the Rover Sports and Social Club, Roman Way, on Saturday, November 5, starting at 7pm.

There will be authentic food, folk and Bollywood dances and Bhangra music.

Tickets cost £25 for adults and are available from Dharam Raj on 01865 243910, Mukesh on 07931 631607 or Ritesh on 07950205056.

Money raised will go towards an appeal to raise cash to build a home for Oxfordshire’s Hindu community.