NORTH Yorkshire’s community spirit was on full show this Sunday when thousands of people took part in Big Lunch street parties.

One of the biggest was on Norfolk Street, in York’s South Bank.

Vicki Robertson, who helped organise the event, said: “It’s not just about having lunch together on that one day but about developing a sense of community that lasts throughout the year. It was great to see neighbours at our Big Lunch enjoying the company of people they might never have spoken to.

“I would encourage everyone to get involved next year.”

In Burn, near Selby, nearly 200 people turned out for a barbeque at the Wheatsheaf pub, raising more than £570 for Cancer Research.

Chris Phillipson, the chairman of Burn Parish Council, said: “Our Big Lunch just keeps getting bigger and better. Every year we see new faces and get new offers of help with all the setting up – and of course the tidying up at the end of the day.”

Started by the Eden Project in 2009, The Big Lunch aims to bring communities together to “share conversation, ideas, skills and resources”.

This year, an estimated four million people took part around the country.