THE high-profile campaign to Make Poverty History which has attracted the interest of international stars and politicians has gained thousands of new supporters in Bolton.

People in the town are being urged to join an event called Stay Up All Night In Bolton in Victoria Square on Friday, April 15, in a show of solidarity with poor people around the world.

The movement is capitalising on the massive wave of public generosity and concern generated in the wake of the south-Asia tsunami disaster.

It has been driven forward locally by the Rev Sue Forrest-Redfern.

She is curate at the Church of St Thomas and St John in Lostock and, after attending a high-profile "Vicar of Dibley" Make Poverty History march in London with actress Dawn French, has been joined by other women involved in a variety of church organisations and people from across the town.

The campaign to increase aid to poor countries, cut debts and end exploitation in the Third World, has caught the imagination of people around the UK.

It has gathered the support of U2 frontman Bono and ex-South African president Nelson Mandella.

Thousands of signatures have already been sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging action.

Locally, the white wrist bands showing support have been selling out at stockists like Justicia in Knowsley Street, Bolton. The shop currently has a waiting list.

Churches like the Lostock church have already been declared MPH churches, and Canon Slade School where pupils of all ages have been collecting signatures and selling wristbands - is the country's first MPH school.

The Rev Sue Forrest-Redfern said that the amount of local enthusiasm for the campaign was "very exciting" and proved how genuinely caring people in the Bolton area were in working to tackle poverty and prevent 30,000 people from dying every day.

The all-night vigil will include speakers, entertainment and special guests, with a Fair Trade breakfast on sale at the Victoria Hall at 8am on the Saturday morning.

Sue said: "It is an abomination to the human race that, because of injustices in the world's management, six million children die from absolute poverty every year.

"We must stop this now.

"It is very heartening that so many local people are already keen to demonstrate their support - but we need more."

Rev Phil Mason from the Victoria Hall said: "It's vital that we all get behind the campaign in a year when there's a real opportunity to make a difference."