THURROCK residents have been invited to participate in a special commemorative event next week to mark the beginning of Srebrenica Memorial Week.

At 10am on Monday, 4 July, borough mayor Cllr James Halden and communities and equalities ortfolio holder Cllr Qaisar Abbas will be joined by speakers representing the Bosnian community to raise the 'Remembering Srebrenica' flag at St Peter & St Paul's Church outside the Civic Offices on New Road in Grays. This will be followed by the blessing of a commemorative tree and a memorial plaque laid in Grays Town Park at 10.45am.

Cllr Abbas said "I look forward to welcoming residents on Monday morning as we pay our respects to the 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys who lost their lives in the 1995 genocide.

"By coming together to remember this tragic event, we will once again pledge ourselves to creating a safer, welcoming community for all, as we work toward building a stronger, and more cohesive society as a whole."