CAMPAIGNERS took to the streets of Bolton town centre in a bid to focus attention on the plight of the world's poorest nations.

A human chain made up of about 100 people stood along the pavement in Knowsley Street yesterday in a public show of strength.

The Rev Jim Hollyman of St Andrew and St George's United Reformed Church blew a whistle to lead them into repeat chants of: "Keep working to cancel the debt."

Members of the Bolton branch of the World Development Movement (WDM) urged Britain and the world's richest nations to cancel Third World debts.

The human chain went on to the streets as Prime Minister Tony Blair joined other world leaders at the G8 summit in Okinawa.

Bolton WDM co-ordinator Chris Cresswell said that Bolton people were angry that promises made at last year's G8 summit had not been kept.

He added: "Only five countries -- Bolivia, Uganda, Mauritania, Mozambique and Tanzania -- have even begun to receive relief under the new arrangements.

"Debts which were promised 100 per cent cancellation have only been cut by 40 per cent and many key countries are still not included in the process. Very poor countries are being made to jump through difficult economic hoops and wealthy creditors are arguing among themselves and finding excuses for doing nothing."

He said that an estimated 19,000 children across the world died each day because their governments have to spend money on debt repayments instead of services for their own people.

The congregations of St Andrew and St George's United Reformed Church and the Victoria Hall Methodist Mission formed the human chain.

They held placards naming the 52 countries they say need debt cancellation.

As part of the campaign weekend, Bank Street Chapel held a summit watch on Saturday and a vigil was held at St Mary's Church in Horwich.

Mr Cresswell urged the public to write to Gordon Brown, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and G8 leaders calling for cancellation of debts.