A DATE has been set for the first meeting of an anti-capital punishment group.

The Rev Ian Robertson, of St John with St Augustine's Church, Accrington, appealed for people, regardless of religion, race or background, to contact him if they wanted to do something positive toward stopping the death penalty.

Since then he has had responses from people throughout East Lancashire and the first meeting has been scheduled for Friday, July 13.

Mr Robertson said: "There have been mixed responses to the suggestion of this type of meeting but the majority has been very positive.

"Even if we only get half a dozen that are interested and committed we can do something positive and help to make a difference."

Mr Robertson first thought of forming a group after writing to Michael Taylor, 29, a killer on death row in Alabama, who he made contact with through the Internet.

Taylor, originally of Gadsden, Alabama, wrote back to Mr Robertson from Holman Prison, Atmore, explaining that he was arrested, aged just 19, after going AWOL from the Navy.

He ran away again but seven days later was arrested for the murder of two people he knew and has spent the last 10 years in prison -- seven on Death Row.

Taylor is currently half way through an appeal against his sentence but if it fails he can only expect to live another six years.

The group Mr Robertson is beginning is based on The Cherish Life Circle, set up in 1993 by Sister Camille D'arienzo in New York, which provides support for people opposed to the death penalty.

Contact Mr Robertson on 01254 234587.