THIS year's annual Science and Faith weekend was the most popular one yet, with over 300 people booking tickets.

A variety of free lectures were held across Malvern from Friday, March 3, to Sunday, March 5, raising £1,500 in donations.

Speakers included Oxford University's Professor Tariq Ramadan, Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and even some from the USA and Europe.

Uncertainty was the theme of this year's Science and Faith weekend, with previous events focusing on compassion, sustainability and evolution.

Dr Barrie Hinksman, one of the weekend's organisers, said: "Every year more people come to stay in Malvern and join local people at these free presentations.

"Malvern’s Mayor, Cllr Cynthia Palmer, opened the weekend and joined an excited audience at The Chase School to hear Professor Tariq Ramadan.

"He challenged his audience to think about identity. He described his own - a European man, a professor, a man, a Muslim.

"Like the audience members, he has many identities. But the most fundamental is that of being a human being."

Professor Ramadan said common humanity is needed to tackle issues such as famine and refugees.

"He added that, when European governments leave the rescue of drowning refugees to a few poor countries, then we are all implicated in that tragedy," Dr Hinksman said.

On Saturday four scientists lectured to local students and adults in The Chase School, Geraldine Rd, Malvern.

In the evening Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, a social scientist, and Dr Mark Flood, a speaker from the US Treasury, spoke at St Matthias' Church, in Church Road, Malvern.

A number of children's workshops were also held during the weekend, with the 'guitar physicist' Mark Lewney and the mathematician Kjartan Poskitt keeping students captivated.

John Inge, the Bishop of Worcester and a trained scientist, brought his two disciplines together to explain his answer to uncertainty.

Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party, also delivered a presentation on Sunday about uncertainty in a time of radical transformation.

The annual weekend is supported by Malvern Town Council and donations raised at the events.