CALLS for fair trade for third world countries from East Lancashire schoolchildren have gone straight to the top -- thanks to their MP.

Pupils at Mount Carmel High School, Accrington, wrote dozens of letters to new International Development Secretary Baroness Amos demanding a shake-up in the rules of international commerce.

They claimed they discriminate against poorer countries in favour of rich ones.

The Trade Justice Campaign says that European countries and America heavily subsidise their agriculture, making it impossible for farmers in the developing world to sell their products at a decent price.

And it says that multinational companies exploit this by buying goods such as tea, coffee and cocoa at knockdown prices and selling them in the West at a huge profit.

The pupils handed the letters to Hyndburn MP Greg Pope when he visited their classes -- and hours later they were in the Cabinet MInister's hands.

He said: "I went to Mount Carmel to talk to pupils about trade justice.

"They gave me dozens of letters to hand over to Baroness Amos about the trade justice campaign.

"Later on the same day, I met with Baroness Amos and handed over the letters.

"I was delighted to go to Mount Carmel and talk to young people about how current trade rules harm the poorest people in the world.

"It reflects really well on the ethos of the school that pupils are interested and well informed on international issues.

"When I handed over their letters later that day to Baroness Amos she was really impressed at the work the pupils had done and their knowledge of the subject.

"She asked me to pass on her thanks to the pupils and their teacher, Alan Fowler."