HYNDBURN churches and community groups have been praised for supporting the campaign to cancel Third World debt.

The borough's MP Greg Pope paid tribute to them and welcomed an announcement by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown that will see Britain write off 100 per cent of bilateral debt for the world's poorest countries.

Mr Pope said: "This is a significant move as we enter the millennium.

"Hundreds of millions of pounds of debt will be written off and will be spent reducing poverty in the world's poorest countries.

"I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and efforts made by churches and community groups throughout Hyndburn. Their support has been crucial.

"This measure will bring real and lasting benefits to children and families in the world's poorest countries for many years to come."

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