The Gravesend Gurdwara joined more than 100 buildings and landmarks across the country by lighting up purple over the weekend.

Its illumination aimed to raise awareness of the census, a survey of all the people and households in England and Wales that happens every 10 years.

The census helps inform the allocation and funding of public services throughout the UK, such as determining the appropriate number of school places and hospital beds needed to properly serve communities.

Clinics were held at the Gurdwara to help people complete their forms which were due yesterday.

Manpreet Singh Dhaliwal, who is Mukh Sewadar, president, of Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara said: “We urge everyone to complete the Census, and are happy to provide support to help those who may have difficult doing so, either because of language barriers or because of lack of access to online facilities.

"We will only know how many people of each faith group live in the area if everyone completes the Census, but the census is important for so many other purposes too.”

More than 15,000 Sikhs are believed to be living in Gravesend and the surrounding suburbs, making up more than 15% of the total local population.

Last year the Gravesend Gurdwara - one of the largest Sikh temples in Europe - celebrated its 10th anniversary and has become a landmark that tens of thousands of Sikhs flock to.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend