Lancaster's MP Hilton Dawson will fly out on a mercy mission to war-torn Sudan this weekend to offer help on behalf of the British Government.

As Chairman of the All Party Sudan Group at the House of Commons, Hilton will be briefed by the British Ambassador in Khartoum before meeting representatives of the Sudanese Government and the rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Army.

Hilton said: "Sudan is one country in the world which may just benefit from the events of September 11.

The Sudanese Government have moved quickly since then to demonstrate that they have severed links with terrorism and a recent initiative by the US has delivered a peace agreement between them and the rebel people's army.

We're going to Sudan at the invitation of the British Ambassador funded by agencies such as Christian Aid to meet all sides in the conflict to listen and learn."