TENS of thousands of Muslims from across the country converged on Hampshire for the biggest event of its kind in Britain over the weekend.

More than 30,000 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) flocked to a village near Alton for a three-day conference as part in a global event, known as Jalsa Salana.

Among them were AMC members from about 100 countries who journeyed to the 200-acre site in Hampshire to pledge allegiance at the hand of the Caliph.

Also known as the Bai'at, the pledge was transmitted via satellite to more than 200 countries.

The annual convention is largest and longest standing annual Muslim convention in the UK and has been running for 48 years.

This year's event saw some 200 acres of land on Oakland Farm in East Worldham transformed into Hadeeqatul Mahdi, a global village with accommodation, kitchen, food, bazaar, library, book stalls, TV and radio stations.

His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, worldwide head of the AMC, opened the conference by delivering a speech promoting spirituality, peace and compassion and raising the Union Flag.

Muslims then pledged their allegiance to the Caliphate and offer to make any sacrifice for its success on Sunday in a mass ceremony.

The Caliph is the fifth successor of His Holiness Mirza Ghulam Ahmad whom Ahmadi Muslims believe to be the Prophet and Messiah prophesised in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.