A church in Stratford held an international prayer event to learn about the lives of women in Egypt.

The Women’s World Day of Prayer service took place at Highway Church in Romford Road on Friday and at churches all over the world.

The event’s theme this year was Streams in the Desert and focused on the lives of Egyptian women and their suffering.

Doreen Church, a group leader at Highway Church, has been attending the Women’s World Day of Prayer for more than 20 years.

She said: “What hit me many years ago is that women across the whole world will take part in the programme.

“We were joining hands with those women, showing care and concern for other people in other nations.”

Mrs Church said the event was a good opportunity to consider how different life is for women in Egypt.

She said: “Women have been very repressed over the generations and to expose that situation can only be for the good.”

The event’s organisers received support from Egypt’s Consul General, Dr Hesham Khalil, who told administrator Mary Judd he was touched the churches said a prayer for Egypt.

He said: “Although many measures have been taken to empower Egyptian women, there are a large number of them who are still suffering from several challenges, particularly those coming from poor uneducated families.

“In this regard, I am honoured to express my sincere gratitude to the Women’s World Day of Prayer service to dedicate this year to Egypt.”

Dr Khalil added: “I wish that all the prayers addressed to our beloved country will positively contribute to improving the current situation.”

Highway Church is a free church that welcomes people of all Christian denominations, and has been at its current location in Romford Road since 1930.

For more about the Highway Church visit highwaychurch.org.uk and for more about the Women’s World Day of Prayer visit wwdp.org.uk.