A YORK charity group has launched a new campaign calling for an overhaul in trade laws to alleviate world poverty.

Volunteers from the York Christian Aid Group passed on hundreds of action pledges to Ryedale MP John Greenway.

He will forward them to Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith. Christian Aid's new Trade For Life campaign calls for a major overhaul of the rules that govern international trade, to make sure they work in favour of the world's poor.

Local organiser Rachel Jones said: "The way that international trade rules work is a scandal. Unless something changes, the world's poor will continue to get poorer. Each pledge we've collected represents someone who is prepared to take action for a more just world."

Martin Drewry, Christian Aid's head of campaigns, said: "The rules of international trade need to change - for too long they've been written by the rich and powerful for their own benefit.

"They need to be rewritten, to make trade work to reduce global poverty."

Contact Rachel Jones on 01904 414398.

Updated: 11:18 Monday, May 27, 2002