(function ($) {
    $(function () {
        
        var items = $('.slides').children();
        var max_height = $('.slides').children(":first").height();
        $('.slides').children().each(function() {
            if (max_height < $(this).height()) {
                max_height = $(this).height();
            };
        });
        
        $('.slides').height(max_height);
        $('.slides').children('div').children('a').height(max_height);

        var start_anim = function (slide) {
            var i = 0;
            var len = items.length;


            var anim = function () {
                if (i == len)
                    i = 0;
                // Hide current image
                $(items[i]).fadeOut(1000);
                // Increment or reset counter
                if (i + 1 == len)
                    i = 0;
                else
                    i++;
                // Show next image
                $(items[i]).fadeIn(1000, function () {
                    setTimeout(anim, 5000);
                });
            };

            anim();
        };

        setTimeout(function () { start_anim($('.slides')) },1000);
    });
})(jQuery);