A St Albans homeless charity marked 60 years of its ‘Uprising for Kindness’ by setting up a living room in the city market on Saturday.

More than one thousand residents picked up leaflets to learn about Emmaus, the homeless charity based in Hill End Lane.

This event marked 60 years since founder Abbé Pierre took to the airwaves of Radio Luxembourg and called upon the people of France to do something to help those sleeping rough on the streets of Paris.

Jennifer Hawson from Emmaus said: "It went really well.

"Our companions did a wonderful job at sharing their stories of how Emmaus has helped them and we must have given out 1,000 leaflets and more than 500 cakes."

The event in 1954 and the outpouring of support from the French public which raised 500 million francs became known as the "Uprising of Kindness" and led to the formation of the international Emmaus movement.

In 1992, Emmaus reached England, setting up initially in Cambridge, with the St Albans community following in 2002. There are now 24 communities throughout the UK who not only provide homes, work and support for the homeless, but also do further solidarity work within the local area.