Southport Hebrew Congregation celebrated its 125th anniversary with a service at its Arnside Road shul attended by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and local Tory MP Damien Moore.

Former Southport residents now living in London, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool were also among the congregation of 150.

Rabbi Mirvis praised the current membership for maintaining regular minyanim. He was presented with a photo of the Southport promenade.

The Chief Rabbi also visited Southport Rest Home, most of whose residents are Jewish, opening its new back garden.

Speaking afterwards, shul chair Michael Braham recalled that when growing up in the town, the synagogue was packed to its 700 capacity for the festivals and the community supported two delis and a kosher butcher.

Today membership is around 100 and the shul receives inquiries from people contemplating retiring to Southport.

“We hold services every Friday evening and Shabbat morning in our beautiful synagogue. We have the support of rabbonim who visit on a rota basis and help us to keep Yiddishkeit alive.”