Schoolchildren, businesses, community groups and churches across Oxfordshire are among millions joining a campaign to try to rid the world of poverty.

In 2001, governments of the world's wealthiest nations, including Britain, pledged to halve the problem of global poverty by 2015.

But four years on, charities and campaign groups have formed a coalition which says the promise is not being fulfilled.

Oxford-based charity Oxfam is part of it -- and is calling for Oxfordshire people to get involved with a worldwide 'Make Poverty History' campaign to urge leaders to do more about it.

A spokesman said: "The Make Poverty History coalition is calling for three things: trade justice, debt cancellation, more and better aid. 2005 is a third of the way to the 2015 deadline to reach the Millennium development goal targets, and it is a wake up call to ensure that world governments meet these."

The campaign was launched in January and thousands of people descended on London to show their support, including stars such as U2 singer Bono.

Among them were female clergy from the Oxford Diocese, who marched with comic actor Dawn French and Richard Curtis, co-founder of Comic Relief, to Downing Street to lobby Tony Blair.

The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev Richard Harries, who is urging parishioners to support the campaign, said: "This is a crucial opportunity to do something serious and lasting about world poverty."

A major part of the campaign includes the sale of white wrist bands displaying the words Make Poverty History.

The idea followed the success of sales of yellow wrist bands, launched as a tribute to cyclist Lance Armstrong's fight against cancer.

More than half a million of the white bands have already been sold, at a cost of between £1 and £2 each, helping to raise more than £500,000 for the campaign.

Pupils at Oxford Community School, in Glanville Road, east Oxford, have been helping to sell the bands and most are wearing them in support.

Oxfam has praised the school for organising fundraising events and setting up stalls promoting the campaign.

Following the Asian tsunami on Boxing Day, students raised £2,304 for the disaster appeal.

They wanted to donate the money towards Oxfam's work in devastated countries, but the charity had received enough funds for its relief programme and a decision was taken to instead contribute it the Make Poverty History campaign.

Teacher Gena Brockett said the school decided to adopt the campaign and students were busy organising events.

She said there had been a great response and pupils wanted to do their bit towards making a difference.

The next big stage of the campaign will be the Global Week of Action for Trade Justice between April 10 and 16.

A major event, organised by Oxford Diocese World Development Group, will take place as part of this in Oxford on April 11, at St Aldate's Church.

Bishop Richard will speak, along with Muhammad Imran, of Islamic Relief, Pushpanath Krishnamurthy, of Oxfam, and Oxford East Labour MP Andrew Smith.

Mr Smith said: "The drive to end world poverty is vital. I'm proud to represent so many people and groups in Oxford who really care about poor countries and do something about it."