Students gathered at sundown to break the daily fast Muslim students undertake during the month-long season of Ramadan.

Islamic students at the University of Newcastle this year expanded the invitation to their weekly break-fast festivities to all staff and students to promote tolerance on campus.

It is the second year of the initiative, established last year after a number of attacks on international students on campus.

There are about 1000 Muslim students at the university, many of them international students.

Organisers said they hoped to remove the Islamophobia that seemed to be part of some pockets of western society.

Newcastle University Students Association international convener Eduardo Carvajal said last year’s events had a positive impact on student relations.

Association convener Heather Richards said such events were hugely important in bridging cultural gaps and strengthening the student community.