A CLITHEROE man has launched a campaign to help the world's poorest countries after seeing the plight of struggling people in India, Nepal and Uganda.

Nick Hepworth, who was born and brought up in the Ribble Valley, is campaigning to put pressure on the Government to keep a promise.

Two years ago, ministers pledged to halve the number of people worldwide who are without water safe enough to drink or even wash in.

Now Nick, 31, is calling on East Lancashire folk to help back his campaign. He plans to visit Blackburn, Lancaster and Preston town centres to gather signatures of support on his Water Aid petition.

The petition calls on the Department for International Development to invest 10 per cent of its aid budget in water and sanitation rather than the current level of two per cent.

And it is hoped the campaign - called Flush Out Poverty - will raise awareness of the plight of people with no running water.

Nick now lives in Lune Street, Lancaster. He has worked for Water Aid in Tanzania and has recently visited India to help villagers secure safe water supplies.

He said: "It is amazing and inspirational in these areas where provision of water is fundamental to their lives. Without sanitation it is impossible to think of creating schools or businesses.

"They are locked in a poverty trap because of the strain on their health and their time.

"Water Aid work with local people to motivate them and achieve projects together.

"This is not just about preventing children from dying of diarrhoea but about the dignity and freedom provided by a reliable and safe water supply. They really deserve our support and I hope people in East Lancashire will support us."

Nick, a former Clitheroe Grammar school pupil, will be in Blackburn next Wednesday. For more information call Water Aid on 0207 793 4508.