AN afternoon of fun and friendship has been lined up for St Matthew's Church Hall Field at Netley Marsh on Sunday (1.45pm to 5pm).

As part of the Make Poverty History campaign, a festival of Soft-Ball fun cricket, with background music from a steel band, is being arranged to help raise awareness of the plight of people living in poverty.

The campaign and the white armbands with writing on them were put under the national spotlight in the New Year episode of the Vicar of Dibley and Nelson Mandela spoke at its launch ion London.

Looking ahead to Sunday's event, Netley Marsh Team Vicar, the Rev John Reeve, said: "This is a real village event organised by St Matthew's Church, Netley Marsh, with various village groups pitted against one another in a unique cricket contest.

"The Harbour Lites Steel Band are guaranteed to add the sunshine required and in getting together like this, the village is saying a heart-felt corporate 'YES' to making poverty history. It can be done - it might actually be done."

And he added: "Bring a rug, a chair or two and sit back and enjoy the music, close your eyes to the cricket and make the most of the refreshments available." All proceeds will go to Christian Aid.