TEENAGERS held a vigil in the centre of Oxford to pay their respects to the people of Lebanon killed and injured by last week's explosion.

The memorial was started by Ayesha Abbasi, 17, and Arinne Fatum, 16, with help from friends.

Held on Monday at Bonn Square, the vigil included speeches as well as Christian and Islamic prayer.

There was also live singing while people came and put down flowers and lit candles on the Tirah war memorial.

Also read: SCAS paramedic volunteering in Beirut after explosion

The Instagram account the teenagers used to spread the message is @helptheworldoxford, which also includes a fundraiser for those impacted by the Beirut blast.

The pair said their aim was to bring the Oxford international community together and raise awareness of global problems.

The explosion in the Lebanese capital last week, caused by more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at the city's port, killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,000.