Ledbury'S branch of Amnesty International agreed this week to write letters in support of a peace activist from Pakistan under sentence of death for blasphemy.

Members of the group, which met on Monday night, decided to support Dr Younis Shaikh, who was sentenced to death on August 18.

The group was founded earlier this year by James Absalom, a former deputy governor of Wandsworth Prison.

Since then, its mailing list has grown to sixty-two people, and this week's meeting, held in Ledbury leisure centre, attracted six more new faces.

Sara Edwards of Ledbury has been elected honorary treasurer of the group. Pam Frith has been chosen as liaison officer with other groups.

Amnesty International campaigns on behalf of prisoners of conscience throughout the world. It also seeks an end to the death penalty and torture and fair trials for political prisoners.

The group's next fundraising event is a garage sale at Arkle and Lynwood, two houses in New Street, on Saturday, September 29, from 11am to 5pm.

The group hopes to raise the £72 necessary for its official registration with Amnesty International

The next meeting is on Monday, October 15, at the leisure centre.