PENSIONER Peter Pike took on former Olympic athlete Steve Cram in a race -- and hopes the winner will be people living in Third World poverty.

The Burnley MP competed against six-time gold medallist Steve Cram in a special Race against Third World Debt on College Green, just opposite the Houses of Parliament.

The Labour backbencher attempted the sprint carrying a sack on his back to represent the debt burden the country he was representing, Guyana in South America, currently carry.

Other MPs did the same for other indebted nations.

In addition to carrying this weight he had to negotiate obstacles left across the course which represented the economic hurdles which make it harder for developing countries to repay their debts.

The race was organised to draw attention to the continuing crisis of debt in the developing world and the challenge that lies ahead if the UN Millennium Development Goal of halving extreme poverty worldwide is to be met by the set target of 2015.

Mr Pike said: "As someone of pensionable age carrying a sack and climbing over hurdles was a great challenge. But not as much of a challenge as that which faces us all if we are to realise the UN Millennium Development Goal of halving extreme poverty worldwide by 2015.

"I agreed to participate to send a clear message to world leaders to renew their commitment to cancel the debt of the poorest countries when they meet at the G8 summit in Evian on June 1.

"Without faster, wider and increased debt relief it is clear that we will not realise the Millennium Development Goal by 2015.

"Some debt has been cancelled but nowhere near enough.

"Money spent repaying this debt is escalating by the day with interest being added on and is money not being used in these countries to provide desperately needed schools, hospitals and clean water.

"Many problems which exist in this world, including terrorism, could be reduced if everyone had a decent basic standard of living.

"Illiteracy, poverty and lack of sanitation do nothing to help tackle the problems we face in the world today.

"Guyana is a former British colony and as such we have a duty to help this country, and so many others where we have diverted wealth and natural resources for our own gain through the years.

"Few people realise that Guyana's problems are exacerbated by extremely difficult terrain which means that much of the country is virtually unchartable.

"Added to that, there is no access to Guyana from its neighbouring countries in South America, with access instead being served through the gateway of Trinidad the bottom island in the Caribbean chain.

"In the first race I represented Niger which faces similar problems to Guyana in terms of debt and poverty."