As harvest time approaches, the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Dr John Sentamu has joined up with charity WaterAid in appealing to faith groups to help provide clean water and sanitation to the world's poorest people.

"Access to water and sanitation underpins health, education and livelihoods. They form the first essential step in overcoming poverty. Please join me in supporting WaterAid in this essential work," Dr Sentamu, a long-time WaterAid supporter, said.

WaterAid works in 17 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific region. Its aim is to help the 1.1 billion people in the world, roughly one sixth of the world's population, that do not have access to safe water.

The charity is highlighting the plight of 2.6 billion people in the world who do not have access to adequate sanitation - roughly two-fifths of the world's population. In addition, 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5,000 deaths a day.

As congregations across Britain come together to give thanks and celebrate the harvest festival, WaterAid has announced that it will press forward more urgently than ever in its work to help the world's poorest people gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

Last year over a thousand churches got involved in WaterAid's Church Harvest fundraising activities, raising over £200,000.

WaterAid said: "Churchgoers' generosity really does make a difference; just £15 can provide someone with safe water, sanitation and hygiene education."

Church Harvest resource packs are available free of charge, and are filled with service ideas, talk outlines, schools resources, an A4 poster for display and hymn and reading suggestions.

For more information please visit: www.wateraid.org