ALL Lancashire’s Church of England parishes have been asked to hold an autumn fair-trade meal to help farmers in the developing world.

With harvest season approaching, the Blackburn Diocese is inviting all its churches and schools make a difference to the lives of the world’s poorest by holding a ‘Traidcraft Big Supper’ between September 23 and 29.

The Big Supper is a national initiative by Traidcraft, the UK’s leading Fairtrade organisation encouraging schools, churches and workplaces and to host a Fairtrade supper at harvest. Traidcraft fights poverty through trade, helping people in developing countries to transform their lives.

By holding a ‘Big Supper’ communities raise cash to support families in the developing world.

Bishop of Burnley and Acting Bishop of Blackburn John Goddard said: “I hope churches of all denominations as well as schools and workplaces across the county will take advantage of this opportunity to help people much less fortunate than ourselves.”