MORE than 600 pupils from across Worcestershire have been involved in a special project exploring the abolition of slavery.

Students gathered at Worcester Cathedral over four days this week to explore some of the key points in history when individuals and groups fought against the trafficking of slaves.

It is part of the 1,000th anniversary of the birth of St Wulfstan, former Bishop of Worcester.

St Wulfstan, inspired by scripture, successfully campaigned for the abolition of a slave trade of Anglo Saxons from Bristol to Ireland.

The students worked with The Big Intent Theatre Company on the project, who were commissioned by the Church Mission Society.

The project has already visited 28 Cathedrals across the country including a recent visit to Freetown, Sierra Leone, from where many slaves were taken, and its time at Worcester included special reference to Worcester's very own St Wulfstan.

It also dealt with present day issues of people trafficking. The event consisted of music, dance and drama workshops and culminated in a public performance each afternoon along side the professional actors in the Nave of the Cathedral.

The Dean the Very Rev Peter Atkinson said: "This is a fitting event this year in which we celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Wulfstan's birth."

The following schools were participating: Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, Malvern St James, Baxter College, Kidderminster, St Augustine's RC High School, The Kings School, Worcester and Dodderhill School, Droitwich.