The Evesham Bell Tower was lit up red this past weekend to raise awareness of modern slavery.

Anti-Slavery Day took place on Monday, October 18, aiming to raise awareness for the 136,000 potential victims of modern slavery in the United Kingdom.

As part of the occasion, the Clewer Initiative organised for cathedrals and churches across the country to light red to raise awareness.

The Vicar of Evesham, the Revd Andrew Spurr, said: “Human trafficking remains a widespread and covert crime in our country with over 500 convictions in the last two years.

“It reduces human beings to being simply means of profit, denies their rights as individuals and control of their lives and alienates them from family and wider society.

“Trafficking leaves a trail of physical and psychological destruction which endures far beyond the period of slavery, which is what it actually is.

“We are committed to a vision of treating people as made in the image of God and so we are pleased to be part of this initiative led by Evesham Rotary.”

The Rotary Club in Evesham took to the town centre on Saturday morning to offer information and advice.

Members gave out over 400 information cards, provided by the Clewer Initiative, which detail what the signs of modern slavery are and who to contact if you feel someone may be a victim.

Councillor Bradley Thomas, leader of Wychavon District Council, said: “Modern slavery undermines basic human rights and causes immeasurable suffering. Wychavon is committed to doing whatever we can to tackle it.

“We do this in a number of ways including the support we provide to people in need - reducing the risk they will be drawn into slavery - the work we do in our communities, the work our housing team does with landlords, only awarding contracts to companies that commit to ensuring slavery or human trafficking is not taking place in their business or supply chain and awareness raising.”

He added: “We are grateful to our partners including All Saints’ Church in Evesham and all the stakeholders involved in the Enlighten Evesham Creative Lighting Trail for making it possible to light up the Bell Tower in a colourful show of support for such an important issue.”