A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Winchester next month to hear about the civil war in Syria.

Local churches have organised the meeting at the United Church in Jewry Street on Wednesday September 17 at 7pm.

Scheduled speakers are Rev Andrew Ashdown, who visited the Middle East country recently, and the meeting will be chaired by Prof Mary Grey, theologian.

There will be time for questions and discussion about the war which has spilled over into Iraq.

The evening, organised by Hampshire Downs Catholic Justice and Peace Group and Winchester Churches Together, is entitled Syria in Crisis: Seeking Hope in Desolation.

Entry is free and there will be a retiring collection for charities working in Syria.