CONGREGATION members of a Kidderminster church are backing a week of protest in aid of a worldwide campaign to improve the plight of the poor.

St Peter's Church, in Birchen Coppice, is supporting the Global Week of Action for Trade Justice, which is part of the MakePovertyHistory initiative. The week got underway last Sunday and runs until Saturday.

The church held a special service on Sunday, April 3, during which a petition was signed calling on the Government to put trade justice on the agenda of G8 - the group of the world's richest nations, which the UK leads this year.

The Trade Justice Movement, which has organised the week of action in the UK, wants poor countries to have the right to help and support farmers and vulnerable industries.

Revd James Stewart, vicar of St Peter's, said: "Our worship and action were an act of solidarity.

"The reality for millions of people in developing countries is that they can't afford to feed their families or send their children to school, simply because international trade rules favour the countries which are already rich and ahead of the game.

"This has to change, in order to allow them a chance of trading their way out of poverty and take their place on the world stage."

St Peter's is holding a care day, on Saturday, April 23, as part of its ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations.

Among organisations that will display information about their work in the community are charities, the NHS and the Patient Advisory and Liaison Service, as well as health groups. Visitors will be able to fill in questionnaires about the services they need.

Mr Stewart said: "We hope that people will come in and discover something new about the services which are available to them and be encouraged about the care on offer by the different agencies and church here."

The event, which is free and open to everyone, runs from 10am until 4pm. It will be followed, the next day, by a special service for health and healing, at 10.30am.