YOUNG Christians are taking to Torquay's streets this weekend to raise awareness of the cost of human trafficking around the world.

At present between 15 and 20 youngsters from the congregation at Upton Vale Baptist Church in St Marychurch Road have pledged to take part in the international I'm not for Sale campaign run by the Tearfund and Soul Action charities.

They plan to display the message 'I'm not for sale, no-one should be' on cardboard signs to raise awareness about the ongoing trafficking of people throughout the world today, for such purposes as prostitution, garment, product and chocolate manufacture.

They will be in the town centre between 1.30pm and 3pm on Sunday.

Youth pastor at the church, Joel Ward, said the aim of the protest was to promote the issues and raise awareness of slavery as well as giving people the opportunity to sign a petition that they are opposed to people trafficking.

The children taking part in the protest range between 12 and 18-years-old and all are part of UV Youth at the church.

"This event has been driven by young people who came back from the Soul Survivor Christian weekend in mid-August and they were fired-up about stories they had heard about trafficking," Mr Ward said.

"They wanted to do a series of teachings about freedom — what it means and how we can campaign for freedom. They decided last week that they would like to do this in the town centre."

Protestor Abbie Irwin, 17, from Totnes and a pupil at KEVICCs said: "We hope that people will be moved by the protest and by seeing the signs they will be more aware of slavery and will ask questions."

Becky Cook, 15, from Brixham and a student at Brixham Community College said: "It is such a big issue and so many people around the world are affected by it and are our age or younger.

"If you have younger brothers or sisters, or people close to you and they were in another country, they could be slaves."

The protest will start outside the church at 1.30pm.