An international aid agency is calling on supporters from across the country to take part in a major campaigning event in Brighton.

Thousands of supporters of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod) are expected to travel to the city to take part in a giant ballot on the beach, casting their vote for fairer international trade rules.

The vote on Sunday, September 26, will coincide with the Labour Party conference.

Cafod aims to fight trade rules which it says are stacked in favour of rich countries and deny poorer nations £1.3 billion a day 14 times what they get in aid.

The event marks the launch of a major new campaign, Vote For Trade Justice, which calls for changes to the rules and institutions that govern international trade.

The campaign is organised by the Trade Justice Movement, a coalition of aid agencies including Cafod, environment and human rights campaigns and trade unions.

As well as casting their votes in the ballot, campaigners will take part in a carnival parade along Brighton seafront to the conference centre featuring Samba music and brightly costumed campaigners.

The day will include a rally with speeches from Casualtys Kwame Kwei-Armah, Time Teams Tony Robinson and Neville Gabriel from the South Africa Bishops Conference.

Alison Marshall, Cafod head of campaigns, said: If you believe the rules are wrong please vote for trade justice.

Anyone wishing to join the campaign can order Vote For Trade Justice ballot cards, by contacting Cafod on 020 7326 5692, or vote online at www.cafod.org.uk/vote4tj