50 young people took part in a special bell-ringing ceremony in London's Trafalgar Square on Wednesday (August 28) to commemorate 50 years since Martin Luther King delivered his "I have a dream" speech in Washington.

The Let Freedom Ring event saw the young people ringing bells at 3pm, the same time of day that the civil rights leader concluded his historic address in 1963.

The event, facilitated by the Small Green Roots charity, included jazz music and readings of the speech by young people around the UK. It was broadcast live on the internet.

"We've been running a combination of youth music projects and youth arts projects for young people across the country supported by the Arts Council, and we had like 100 teenagers take part and get accreditation for it, so we thought what better way to celebrate than have our symbolic bell ringing at 3pm, which is exactly when Martin Luther King made his speech, at Trafalgar Square. We were asked to do so by the King Foundation in Atlanta so it was an honour to take part," explained organiser of the event Natalie Wade.

Henry Coats, a representative of the charity, commented on why the anniversary was relevant worldwide.

"I wanted to get involved because I wanted everyone to recognise that it is a big thing in England and Britain as much as it is around the rest of the world. And it's not just about the black community, it is the white community and it just shows how much everything has changed," he said.

King, a black clergyman and advocate of non-violence, was among six organisers of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he made his address.

King's speech is credited with helping spur passage of sweeping civil rights laws. A white prison escapee assassinated the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1968.

Presented by Adam Justice