The first bat mitzvah has taken place in Preston for 50 years.

Jewish families in the city gathered to mark the ceremony for Rachael Dable.

A bat mitzvah marks the move into adulthood for a Jewish girl or boy – at the age of 12 for a girl and 13 for a boy.

Rachael is the daughter of the chair of Preston’s Faith Forum and the event was attended by the Mayor of Preston councillor Brian Rollo.

A statement from the Lancashire and Cumbria Liberal Jewish community said: “Lynn Frank was bat mitzvah in Preston more years ago than it is polite to mention. Her family were prominent members of the Preston synagogue which closed its doors in 1982. On Friday 23 June, Lynn (now Lynn Rankin) played a part in the continuity and revival of Jewish life in Preston when she presented a certificate to mark the coming of age of a new bat mitzvah, Rachael Dable.

“Rachael celebrated her big day in the presence of family, friends, members of the Lancashire & Cumbria Liberal Jewish Community and the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Brian Rollo. Rachael and members of her family recited the prayers and blessings to welcome Shabbat in Preston. Rachael and her father, Jeremy, both read from the Torah at the Menorah Synagogue in Manchester on Shabbat morning.

“Rachael, who suffered brain injuries at her birth, was commended by Rabbi Robert Ash for the very hard work she put in over many months to learn her Torah portion and the blessings for Torah and Haftarah.”