HEALTH advice was on offer at an event in Basingstoke to celebrate women.

Hampshire Wellbeing Services held a celebration of International Women’s Day at Brookvale Village Hall on Saturday.

Among the attractions was a timeline of notable women, including physicist and chemist Marie Curie, Indira Gandhi, the first Indian Prime Minister, and British Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill.

There were also stalls with people offering advice on giving up smoking, diabetes risk, mental health and stroke.

Visitors could pose for photos in clothing donated by different community groups, and enjoy a performance by the south Asian dance group, Kala the Arts.

Annie Noble, founder of Hampshire Wellbeing Services, based at The Orchard in White Hart Lane, Basingstoke, said the event was not just about celebrating women.

She said: “We’re also trying to give wellbeing advice and for women to access services that are in the community that they might not know about, for whatever reason.”

Among the guests were the Mayor and Mayoress of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Roger Gardiner and wife Tricia.

Mrs Gardiner said: “If people come to something like this, and find there are services available, then it’s going to make a lot of difference.”

International Women’s Day, which fell this year on Sunday, has been observed since the early 1900s to inspire women and celebrate achievements.