A flashmob style pop-up church made a brief appearance in the centre of Norwich today to draw attention to the Easter message and to gather in essential food items for Norwich Foodbank.

Co-ordinated by Transforming Norwich and Norwich Foodbank, more than 150 people from churches across Norwich and Foodbank supporters participated in the 10-minute event on Millennium Plain outside The Forum, at about midday. They brought along about a dozen baskets filled with items of non-perishable food.

A wooden cross was placed in the middle of the Plain, songsheets were handed out and the items of food were placed at the foot of the cross as a pop-up choir led the singing of Amazing Grace. The crowd then dispersed leaving just the cross and the food.

The food will go to the Norwich Foodbank to support local people in crisis.

Norwich Foodbank project manager Grant Habershon said: 'We were pleased that more than 100 people turned up and took part in the singing, as it was a bit of a last minute thing.

'The two things we wanted to get across were that people are in crisis throughout the year, not just at Christmas, so we need support from the community the whole year.

'And, secondly, while the Norwich Foodbank is supported by the whole community and by people of all beliefs, we are a Christian charity, and we wanted to bring the Easter message, which is love and hope, to people in crisis at this time of year.'

Mark Fairweather-Tall, chairman of churches' group Transforming Norwich, said: 'On Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus for us on the cross. Today's event is the church on the streets marking Good Friday and showing God's love for the world by helping to provide food for those who do not have any.'

The event was filmed and will appear on the Norwich Foodbank website atwww.norwichfoodbank.co.uk.