ISLINGTON Assembly Hall was filled with the sound of music as Ukrainian refugees in traditional dress arrived to mark their country’s independence day.

The event, organised by the council, served as a celebration of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union.

The hall was decked out in sunflowers and yellow-and-blue flags as refugees from across the borough gathered to share Ukrainian food and listen to talks on their history, politics and culture.

This was a chance for the 284 Ukrainian refugees who have settled in the borough so far to meet one another, some for the first time.

The council is expecting a further 100 people from Ukraine to arrive in the coming months.

“This year has been devastating for those in Ukraine and so many people have been displaced and found themselves refugees and asylum seekers,” said equalities chief Cllr Roulin Khondoker.

She said it was vital to maintain a sense of occasion and celebration, even in difficult situations.

People in Islington can still open their homes to refugees arriving from Ukraine. The council is particularly looking for any residents who have two or more spare rooms available in their home.