CHESHAM'S Muslim community came together this week to pray and celebrate Eid-al-Adha one of the most important dates in the Islamic calendar.

On Tuesday more than 1,000 Muslims in Chesham packed into the town's youth club on Bellingdon Road to pray before feasting at their family homes.

Eid-al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, is the most important feast of the Muslim religion. It includes the Pilgrimage to Mecca and lasts for three days although some Muslims may only celebrate it for one day.

Chiltern district and Chesham town councillor Mohammed Bhatti (Con, Newtown, Chesham) said: "At home we have a big feast and we give presents to our children just like Christians do at Christmas.

"The women wear their best clothes as do the men and children and most people took the day off work. The children took the day off school."

About 15 Muslims from Chesham joined the 21,000 British Muslims on the pilgrimage, or Haj, to Saudi Arabia as part of the Eid-al-Adha festival.

The festival commemorates Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to obey God (Allah) by sacrificing his son.

Muslims believe the son to be Ishmael rather than Isaac as told in the Old Testament.

Ishmael is considered the forefather of the Arabs and according to the Koran, Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son when a voice from heaven stopped him and allowed him to sacrifice a ram instead.

But due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, Muslims across Britain have not been able to make the traditional sacrifice.

Many families have instead sent money back to relatives in Pakistan and Kashmir.