PEOPLE across Oxford are set to throw open their homes to neighbours to share breakfast with a prayer.

For the past two years, neighbours in a street in Marston, Oxford, have been meeting once a week for a prayer breakfast.

The gatherings have proved so successful at bringing the community together that a city-wide event is planned for this Saturday. And worshippers of all denominations are welcome.

Marcus Roberts, who hosts the prayer breakfasts at his home in Edgeway Road, said: “It started when we knocked on every door and invited everyone to breakfast.

“We expanded that and have now decided to try a city event and are encouraging everyone to invite their neighbours.”

So far 20 groups have signed up to take part in Saturday’s Big Breakfast, ranging from people hosting events for neighbours in their own homes, to larger, church-organised breakfasts in Barton and Northway.

All the events are free and are designed to provide both physical as well as spiritual sustenance.

Mr Roberts said: “What’s really great is you get to know people on your street in a way that is quite simple.

“We are trying to make it easy for anyone to feel at home, so any Christian wh o comes will feel welcome. We don’t make it too heavy.”

Each event will include songs, prayers and breakfast itself. Most will run between 9am and 10.30am.

Mr Roberts said: “The little events, with just a few neighbours, are the ones I would like to encourage the most because people may start getting together regularly.

“The goal is to develop a sense of community and then maintain that.”

Find your nearest event on streetprayer.org.uk, or by calling 01865 452366.