Fair trade campaigners gathered at Brighton station today before joining a mass lobby of Parliament.

Sussex campaigners joined thousands from all over Britain protesting at unjust world trade rules which they say prevent people in the poorest countries lifting themselves out of poverty.

Activists from the World Development Movement, Oxfam, Christian Aid, CAFOD, and Friends of the Earth then travelled to Westminster to make their feelings known to MPs.

World Development Movement member Hazel Bloor said: "We are going to London to demand the rules of global trade be rewritten and international corporations be regulated.

"Trade should be made to work for people, not just profit.

"The system is creating poverty and harming the environment and we believe it is unacceptable."

Rock band Radiohead were among campaigners taking part in the lobby, which has been timed to coincide with upcoming EU and G8 summit meetings.

Campaigners said new trade rules, such as the General Agreement on Trade in Services, would force developing countries to open up public services to the free market.

Rich countries, meanwhile, are able to export subsidised agricultural produce to developing countries which affects the livelihood of small farmers and limits people's access to cheap food.