A NORTH Yorkshire woman has set-up an organisation to help Christian prisoners in Egypt.

The Christian Prisoners' Support Network supports foreign Christians who are serving prison sentences in the Muslim country.

Jenny Hargreaves, of Richmond, formed the group in 2001. She said: "Many have no relatives to care for them.

"We help provide money to meet their daily needs and, in some cases, to pay their fines on release.

"We also try to give emotional and spiritual support, as well as training and rehabilitation."

Mrs Hargreaves helps the prisoners earn some money by selling their handmade crafts, including intricate beadwork pens, handbags and purses, on Richmond Indoor Market.

"This provides them with both the opportunity to make a little income and also the chance to do something creative and beautiful in a place where there is little beauty," she said.

Many of the prisoners, who come from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Colombia and the Philippines, have been jailed for drug offences.

Mrs Hargreaves said others have been imprisoned just because they are Christian.

The organisation's latest project is a home in Ghana helping ex-prisoners become rehabilitated. To find out more about the Christian Prisoners' Support Network visit www.cpsn.co.uk