THE Archbishop of York is to lead thousands of "pilgrims" carrying a giant cross on a procession through London to repent for the Church of England's complicity in the slave trade.

Dr John Sentamu, who grew up in Uganda and has described how his forebears were among those enslaved, is to lead the march alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

African drummers will beat a lament as they walk. The event is expected to culminate in a symbolic "release from the past" - which could be a replica slave auction notice being torn up or shackles being removed from the cross.

The "walk of witness", on March 24, will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade within the British Empire.

The Press told last month how York Minster is to stage a major thanksgiving service for the life of William Wilberforce - who was a Yorkshire MP for many years - on the 200th anniversary of his greatest achievement.

Former Tory leader William Hague and the Archbishop of York will be among those taking part in the service on February 25.

It will also feature the Riding Lights Theatre Company, the Trans-Global drummers and Pocklington School choir.

Churches across the country are being encouraged to bus up to 8,000 parishioners to London for the march, according to a Sunday newspaper.

It will take two routes through the capital, ending at Kennington Park in south London with an open-air church service.

The Archbishops are expected to march alongside a group of black and white youths bearing the cross.

A route across the Thames has been chosen to represent the Atlantic crossing made by more than 10 million Africans sent to the Americas between the 15th and early 19th centuries.

Worshippers will be asked to sign a petition calling on the government to take action against modern-day slavery, such as sex trafficking from eastern Europe.