A NEW walk will be launched this summer to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Abolition Of The Slave Trade Act.

The Wilberforce Way is named after William Wilberforce, the Pocklington-educated leader of the Parliamentary campaign against the slave trade, and runs for 35 miles from Hull to the East Yorkshire town, then on to York.

The walk will take in historical points of interest including Beverley Minster, a renowned place of pilgrimage, and the Wilberforce House Museum, Wilberforce's birthplace.

It has been developed by the Yorkshire And Humber Faiths Forum and East Riding Community Cohesion Forum.

Wilberforce was educated at Pocklington School and wrote his first letter of protest from there against the African slave trade at the age of 14.

He later went on to become MP for Hull and then for Yorkshire.

An extended walk continues from Pocklington to York, although the full 60-mile trail is divided into 13 connected walks so the route can be completed as a series of short day trips.

Other relevant landmarks on the walk include Cherry Burton, a fair trade village highlighting modern day initiatives to combat enslavement in food production.

Even today, 200 years after the Act Of Abolition was passed, there are still an estimated 27 million men, women and children still in slavery.

The developers of the Wilberforce Way hope the walk may encourage people to become involved in today's campaign to abolish modern slavery in all its forms, as well as to help people recognise the hard work of William Wilberforce and other abolitionists.

Inderjit Bhogal, director of the Yorkshire And Humber Faiths Forum, said: "This walk not only marks an important anniversary, but also raises awareness of the challenges of contemporary slave trades.

"Over 250 years ago when William Wilberforce was a pupil at school in Pocklington, he was aware of the global injustice of the transatlantic slave trade."

The walk will be launched in May by a group of walkers and other events have been planned along the way to mark the occasion, including a culture evening and a service of commemoration at Wilberforce's childhood church in Pocklington.

East Riding councillor Rowan Blake-James said: "I feel privileged to be part of such an important and exciting collaborative initiative.

"It is a wonderful idea to commemorate the abiding work and principles of William Wilberforce in this permanent way. The walk will continue to provide pleasure and freedom long after this centenary year has passed."