HUNDREDS of people travelling to Edinburgh to 'Make Poverty History' are confident they can persuade the leaders of the world's richest nations to sit up and take notice.

Worcester's Trade Justice Network has organised a coach and minibus to take about 80 people to the Scottish capital on Saturday for the G8 summit.

There will be four more coaches leaving Hereford and many more protesters are expecting to make their own way up to Scotland from the region at the weekend.

They will join an estimated 100,000 protestors from around the world to march through Edinburgh and lobby the G8 leaders who meet the following Wednesday.

Campaigners from Make Poverty History want the G8 to increase aid for poorer countries, cancel Third World debt and make trade fairer.

Anthony Wood, trade justice network co-ordinator, said: "It's the start of a long process in getting a fairer deal for many countries. We don't expect poverty to be history overnight but it is going to happen ultimately. It is the beginning of a fundamental process.

"It's a question of sheer numbers - the Government will see how many people are committed to go a long distance to Edinburgh for this cause."

Oxfam member Lorna Checketts said: "It's a drip-drip effect - we're showing we won't let this go. There's more and more people getting to hear about it and it's becoming a much bigger issue now."

Hilary Oliver, a parishioner from Ombersley Road Methodist Church, added that she and husband Mike were making such a trip for the first time.

"We aren't seasoned campaigners but we feel so strongly it's moved us to do something," she said.

Meanwhile the Bishop of Hereford, Anthony Priddis, is challenging churchgoers to be 'great' in helping make world poverty history.

In a letter sent to parishioners, Bishop Anthony says they can help stop suffering.

"I am challenging our churchgoers in the same way that Nelson Mandela challenged all of us when he said 'Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that generation'," he writes.

"It's not too late to let your MP or the Prime Minister know how we feel about this issue."

l Can travelling to Edinburgh this weekend really help make poverty history? Read opinions out in Friday's Talkback.