The start of the long Easter weekend saw hundreds of people take to the streets for Walks of Witness across Suffolk.

The events marked the last journey taken by Jesus in the Bible before his crucifixion.

The walk is based on the Stations of the Cross, a series of 14 images of Christ on his final journey marked by crosses normally arranged in a church for Christians to pause and pray at.

The Very Revd Martin Thrower, Rector of Hadleigh Layham and Shelley, was present at the Walk of Witness in Hadleigh yesterday and said the it was a way of taking the Easter story out of the church and to the local people.

“It went really well, as it normally does, and is something we do every year,” Mr Thrower said.

“All the Christian churches in Hadleigh were represented and I think that is really good.”

Describing the walk Mr Thrower added: “It began at St Mary’s Church and what happens it that someone will carry and plain, wooden cross and that person in Hadleigh changes between each of the stations.

“At each point on the journey we will stop and recall Jesus taking his journey to the cross and his death and take a bit of time for people to reflect on that.”

Mr Thrower said people used the different parts of Jesus’ journey, such as when he fell under the weight of his cross but got back up, to draw strength and inspiration from, and how it can impact on people’s lives today.

He added the walk was very well attended and that at important times it was good to see the different Christian denominations coming together despite their differences.

In Woodbridge a play entitled Pageant of the Passion was performed at the Riverside Theatre, depicting the last week of Jesus’ life and his resurrection.

Initially planned to be outside at Elmhurst Park the decision was taken to move it inside because of the threat of rain, but Lyn Spall from Churches Together Woodbridge and Melton said the event was still a success.

“It was amazing,” she said. “It was incredibly well attended.

“We set up a live outside link to Quay Church just up the road from the Riverside.

“They had nearly 300 people watching on three screens so we were probably getting around 600 people seeing it.

“It was so moving, the music, the choir and the acting.”

Mrs Spall said she had received a number of messages since the show from people saying how much they enjoyed watching it.

“The number of people who came up to me saying it was fantastic and other people were moved so much they needed their handkerchiefs.”

Frances Parr of Bury St Edmunds Churches Together said it was “wonderful to see so many people involved” in its walk on Friday, adding it was “a real testimony to the work that our churches are doing together in Bury and a statement of faith in the community”.

The Bury St Edmunds walk was also conducted in silence, an act which Ms Parr said received positive feedback.

In Ipswich a walk left from Christ Church in Tacket Street and processed through the town.