EVERY three seconds a child dies as a result of poverty. That was the message a group of 100 campaigners wanted to get across in Swindon.

And they used the Jubilee clock in the town centre to make their point.

They met up on Saturday to make a human ring around the clock in a protest against Third World poverty.

Organisers were delighted so many people took part in the Make Poverty History demonstration, aimed at highlighting the crisis.

Men, women and children marched to the clock carrying placards reading "drop the debt" and "make poverty history."

A drumbeat was heard every three seconds during the march to signify each time a child dies as a direct result of extreme poverty somewhere in the world.

Once the protesters had gathered around the clock they made a human ring around it.

And, after a minute's silence, they shouted: "Make poverty history."

Protester Barbara Abrey, 52, a library assistant from Wroughton, said: "The protest will raise the profile of the campaign and, hopefully, make more people aware."

The Rev Mike Haslam, 33, a priest from Purton, was also among those who joined the demonstration.

He said: "I'm here because this is hugely important.

"We have been given an opportunity to change the world and I want to be part of that."

Sandra Marshall, of Sandringham Road, Old Town, said she wanted to be part of the protest to make a difference.

The 58-year-old retired teacher said: "If we can't get out of our church buildings to support campaigns then what are we about as Christians?"

The Labour candidate for North Swindon, Michael Wills, who also attended, said more should be done to end the crisis.

He said: "We have it in our power to put things right.

"This situation cannot and must not be tolerated, something must be done now."

The three main issues the protesters wanted to get across were trade justice, so farmers in poor countries are paid a fair price for their produce, to drop world debt and to get better aid for poor countries.

One of the organisers, Barbara Aftelak, 42, said she was thrilled at the number on the day.

She said: "This is a good number of people who are in town to say something is going on that there is a wider world out there.

"It's important that people see us here campaigning because it may give them the encouragement and enthusiasm to pick up a leaflet, or visit the website and to carry on with the work themselves."

She added: "Swindon is classed as an affluent town and that can breed apathy.

"But, on the whole, the town is good at campaigning about these issues."

Lyndsay Scanlan