White balloons bearing messages of peace and happiness were released in Hammersmith on Wednesday (September 21) to mark the International Day of Peace.

The special event, which was attended by school children and Hammersmith and Fulham mayor Mercy Umeh, took place in Lyric Square.

The day was first established by the United Nations in 1981 to invite the world to commit and contribute to a culture of peace.

Dozens of school kids from Phoenix High school, St Paul’s primary, Normand Croft, Larmenier and Sacred Heart and Brackenbury primary supported the event’s peace pledge by signing tags and attaching them to the balloons.

White balloons drift off into the sky during the International Day of peace ceremony in Hammersmith

They were also invited to write their own pledge and stick it on a giant dove before it was suspended in the square.

Speeches were then given by Hammersmith and Fulham borough commander Gideon Springer , Reverend Simon Down of St Paul’s Hammersmith, Sian Alexander of the Lyric Hammersmith and others.

There was also live music before the event closed with the lighting of candles and release of balloons by Hammersmith and Fulham youth mayor Aminiata Koroma.

Mayor Mercy Umeh with the giant dove, with messages written on it, before it was hoisted above Lyric Square

HammersmithLondon BID , along with the council helped organise the event. Director Patricia Bench said: “People of all faiths and backgrounds came together to enjoy the event and they all signed the BID’s giant peace dove with messages of hope for the future.

"It was a great example of the Hammersmith community coming together.”