A first monthly Shabbat service for a Sephardi minyan at Stanmore Synagogue attracted a congregation of close on 50 men and boys. The majority were Sephardim, with a sprinkling of "curious and enthusiastically engaged Ashkenazi members", reported Nissan Moradoff, the driving force behind the venture.

"The Stanmore community has traditionally always been very conservative," he said. "But the younger generation coming through are more willing to celebrate the diversity within our congregation. Until now, opportunities for Sephardim have been relatively limited, but with more people keen to return to the traditions of their cultural background, we are seeing a greater interest in these kind of services."

The plan is for the minyan to meet on the last Shabbat of the month. Mr Moradoff is confident it will expand and wants to see "more husbands and wives coming along with their children".