LEIGH hosted the final day of a cultural art exchange celebrating the UK’s relationship with India.

Silk River, a ten-day moving exhibition of 22 colourful hand-painted Bengal silk scrolls was transported along High Street, Leigh, ahead of its finale at Southend Pier.

The event, created by Kinetika, the designers of the athlete’s parade at the London 2012 Olympics, was supported by Southend Council and Arts Council England.

Ali Pretty, artistic director of Kinetika, said: “From small seeds sown at Kew Gardens, we walked for ten days and 128 miles.

“Later we emerged at the end of the longest pleasure pier in the world in Southend, carrying 22 six metre silk scrolls which were sent off with blessings and a song to board the Waverley.”

Ali thanked all the people who had been part of the project, taking the scrolls all the way to Southend.

She said: “I am very happy that we have nurtured a Silk River network along the Thames.

“It celebrates and embraces the diversity of our population and in particular in 2017, our UK cultural connection with India.”

The scrolls have returned to London where they will be the centrepiece of two exhibitions in Trafalgar Square and Kew Gardens.

The scrolls will then set off on a long journey along the River Hooghly and back to West Bengal to continue the celebrations.