A peace vigil will be held to remember the victims of the Sri Lanka bomb attack.

A multi-cultural and multi faith peace vigil is due to be held outside Ilford Town Hall today at 6.30pm.

The event will include a one minute silence to honour the more than 300 victims killed in the attack and a bagpiper who will be playing a lament.

The event is being organised by British Pakistani Christian Association and both Ilford and Newham branches of Emmanuel Christian Centre (Tamil Churches).

Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association Wilson Chowdhry said: "We hope people from all walks of life will join our solidarity event and show support in particular for our anguished Sri Lankan community.

"In our cosmopolitan city of London such attacks cause outrage to the many different people of all faiths or none, who are horrified by the twisted ideology that seeks to destroy our peace."

"Global Christian persecution is on the rise and I urge the UK to take seriously their review of the matter under the auspices of Jeremy Hunt.

"Foreign aid budgets and diplomatic engagement must bring peace to a broken world by first eradicating Islamism and other far right movements so that from a stable bedrock of safety more harmonious societies can ferment."

The Easter Sunday bombings were the deadliest violence Sri Lanka has witnessed since the end of the country's civil war in 2009.

Suicide bombers killed at least 359 people and injured more than 500 at churches and top-end hotels across Sri Lanka.

Most victims were Sri Lankans, but at least 38 foreigners are among the dead, including British, Indian and US citizens.

Evidence is mounting that local jihadists linked to the Islamic State group carried out the attack, and police have made a number of arrests.

People of all faiths shocked by the attack are urged to join the peace vigil later today in Ilford to honour the victims killed and injured in the attack.

Pastor Kanagaratum from Ilford Emmanuel Christian Fellowship said: "Though extremists have struck at Christians during our most holy of celebrations we cannot let their evil ideology win.

"Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to 'Love our neighbour' and we must extend a hand of peace despite the disappointment, hurt and anger we feel.

"Today we mourn the death of our martyrs, but one day we will be reunited with them in more glorious surroundings as we revel in the presence of our God."