This year's European Neighbours' Day celebrations will officially be launched at Liverpool Town Hall on May 12.

Established in France in 1999, European Neighbours' Day annually engages more than 7.5m participants across 28 countries.

This year's festivities - which will take place across the continent on May 27 - are the first to be officially recognised by the European Commission following its recent confirmation as patron of the event.

Derek Long, the Federation head of north will be speaking at the event highlighting the work of housing associations in bringing neighbours together for the day.

The launch will also be attended by Atanase Perifan, Neighbours' Day founder and a representative from the European Commission Delegation in the UK to mark Neighbours' Day recent endorsement by the Commission.

Planning is underway across the North of England on a range of activities to celebrate good neighbours, bring people together and have some fun.

Large and small events are taking place across the country and hosted by cities including Liverpool, Capital of Culture, Manchester, Newcastle and for the first time Camden Borough in London,

Derek Long, National Housing Federation head of North, said: "According to a recent survey half of Britons have said hello to fewer than half a dozen people in their street in the last week.

"It is time to change that. European Neighbours Day will bring neighbours together, whether for a street party, a karaoke evening or even just a cup of coffee.

"Housing associations from around the country are helping boost community spirit and help people to get to know their neighbours better."