LEADING church figures gave their backing to the anti-global poverty movement, in the North-East at the weekend.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton, was the main preacher at the Regional Service of Thanksgiving and Recommitment for Make Poverty History, at Durham Cathedral.

He was joined in Saturday's service by Margaret Sentamu, wife of the recently-installed Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend Dr John Sentamu.

The service, backed by many Church denominations, was organised by North-East campaigners of Make Poverty History.

It was held to mark the anniversary of Make Poverty History, highlighted by the high-profile efforts of figures such as Nelson Mandela, Bob Geldof and Bono, calling on western governments to ease the debt burden on impoverished nations of the world.

Returning to the city where he served as a parish vicar, at St Nicholas' Church during the 1970s, Lord Carey, said the movement was borne out of anger at the sense of injustice at the inequalities which exist between the planet's "the haves and have-nots".

He described it as a remarkable movement, bringing together a wide range of groups and individuals in "a gigantic tsunami of protest" against such inequalities and, "complacency in the face of 30,000 deaths each day from easily treatable diseases".

"Make Poverty History called for a fundamental rethink of the relationship between rich and poor worlds.

"The campaign raised public awareness in a more fundamental way than ever before.

"Thirty-one million people from 84 national coalitions around the world united in a global call to action against poverty."

He said it may not, yet, appear to have made much of an immediate effect.

"But, on the other hand, governments and politicians have made promises, and the world is beginning to hear the cries of the very poor."

Both he and Mrs Sentamu urged supporters to keep up the pressure for change in the movement's second year.

Following the service they examined a range of Fair Trade produce from under-developed nations, on display in the cathedral's south nave aisle.

Readings were given at the service by several local politicians, while the Right Reverend Kevin Dunn, Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, led prayers.