Park prayers moved indoors as Birmingham celebrates start of Eid al-Fitr

Thousands of worshippers marked the start of Eid al-Fitr at Birmingham’s Green Lane mosque after the city’s largest outdoor prayer service was cancelled due to waterlogged ground at a nearby park.

In previous years Muslims from around the West Midlands, London and overseas have joined crowds estimated to number up to 60,000 in Small Heath Park.

Around 40,000 were expected to attend the park this year, while several hundred more were set to gather at Edgbaston’s Colts cricket ground.

“Instead of doing one (outdoor gathering) we planned four prayer sessions for around 3,000 people in each (at the mosque).”

A fifth was later added to cater for demand, the spokesman added.