DOZENS of families flocked to Queen’s Park for crafts, cooking and tales of togetherness.

New group Pop Up Community hosted Gems Family Festival at the town centre park on Saturday afternoon under blissful blue skies.

Organisers hoped that the event would promote “togetherness” and a sense of community.

Pop Up Community’s Fidelma Meehan, 51, said: “This event is really just to show people what’s possible through conversation. It’s a meeting of hearts and minds for families.”

People came from as far away as Chippenham to enjoy the colourful event. They heard a powerful story of a farmer who taught his selfish sons an important life lesson when he challenged them to break a bundle of sticks.

“If we stick together we’re stronger, more united – we can get things done,” said organiser Dien Luu of the story’s message.

Dien, 40, said: “It’s been brilliant.”

Children joined Old Town artist Rebecca Sturgeon to create small figures from card and colourful paper. The figures were placed around a stick “village” made from twigs tied together with colourful wire.

Rebecca, 35, smiled: “It’s been wonderful watching the village grow.”

She said of her favourite element of the day: “It’s just seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and the feeling of being part of something. It’s a pleasure to be involved in it.”

Organiser Fidelma, of Old Walcot, said that she hoped events like hers would encourage stronger community spirit in the town.

“I think what’s happened in many places is that we’ve become very isolated. We need to live not in a community but as a community – even if it’s just a case of saying hello to one another.”

Partygoers were well served with onion bhajis from Bengali Kitchen. The firm’s Tanny Saha, 19, of Broadgreen, said: “It’s just a really nice day, with different types of activities. It’s such a friendly place.”