By RACHEL SPENCER

MORE than 400 Sikhs from across the north west flocked to the Sikh Temple in Latchford on Sunday to enjoy the Baisakhi celebrations.

Young and old enjoyed the special day which marks the birthday of Khalsa, the Pure One, and celebrates Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru who founded the brotherhood with the baptism of the sword.

Baisakhi is celebrated in Sikh temples with the singing of hymns, lectures, a free kitchen for food at the temple, and a flag raising ceremony where a pole is taken down and washed down in yoghurt then raised while the national anthem is sung to bring in the new year. A harvest festival is also held.

And the Sikh community of Warrington and surrounding areas and St James' Church lunch club had a second reason to celebrate after raising £1,200 for the Indian earthquake appeal.

Singh Hansara, president of the temple gave the money to Mr D R Pahuja, consulate general of India, at the ceremony on Sunday.

Singh Tatla, who manages culture and education at the temple, said: "It was a great event which everyone enjoyed. We were very pleased.

"The community is very concerned about the earthquake and we have been supporting this appeal for the last few months."