Children from Parbold Douglas School have sad tales to tell.

This year's Harvest service was based on the Bishop of Blackburn's Harvest Appeal 2005 (letter below) and recognised that tackling the terrible poverty in our world must involve giving the poor a 'fair deal'.

Thank you to everyone who attended the service and whose donations will be used to support sustainable agriculture projects in Senegal and South Africa.

The Bishop's letter,

Dear brothers and sisters,

This is an important year in the fight against poverty and injustice in the developing world. The MAKE POVERTY HISTORY campaign continues to call for justice in trade relations; for the cancellation of the debts that cripple the poorest countries; and for the UK government to give more and better aid.

As a diocese we have made a significant contribution to this on-going struggle, and it is important that we continue to give our support. In February 2005 we became a Fairtrade Diocese, and I do hope that every parish will eventually take part in this initiative. And of course the annual harvest appeal has raised many thousands of pounds for the poorest communities in the world. I am sure that this wonderful generosity will continue this year as we support sustainable agriculture projects in Senegal and South Africa.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Nicholas.

Harvest of Justice

'It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops.' 2 Timothy ch 2 v 6

Find out more about Fairtrade products via the link - http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/ and about Tearfund via - http://www.tearfund.org/