EVENTS have been held in Tywyn and Machynlleth to mark International Refugee week.

Mid Wales Refugee Action group organised the events to raise awareness, celebrate community achievements and look to the future.

At Machynlleth market, ‘thank you’ notes were handed out to shoppers detailing donations made by the local community and how they had been used.

Signatures were also collected on a pledge form to support Machynlleth becoming a Town of Sanctuary - a safe and welcoming place for those fleeing war and persecution, in line with the Welsh Government pledge to make Wales the world’s first Nation of Sanctuary.

Tegwen Brickley, spokesperson for MWRA, said: “We are immensely grateful for the generosity of our local community.

“Over the last year we have sent over a dozen vehicles to Northern France loaded with desperately needed items and taking people to volunteer on the ground.”

And on Friday evening, The Magic Lantern cinema in Tywyn donated its venue and time for a showing of ‘On The Bride’s Side’, a documentary of the unusual journey to safety of Palestinian and Iranian refugees aided by an Italian journalist.

MWRA event organiser Giulio Mescia said: “The film was well attended and provoked thoughtful group discussion afterwards about international law and the impetus to act on one’s conscience.”

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday