Watford shoppers signed and sent almost 100 special cards to people suffering from human rights abuses at a special event on Saturday.

Watford Amnesty Group opened a stall in the Harlequin Centre where shoppers could fill out a card with a positive message. These were then sent around the world to organisations such as The Afghan Women's Network and Women of Zimbabwe Arise.

Individual recipients also included a family under house arrest in China, where even a five-year-old girl is not allowed to step outside her home.

Mark Nicholas, from Watford Amnesty International Group, said: “I am delighted to confirm that the cards are being delivered to people suffering human rights abuses around the world.”

The cards are also used as a form of petition, to publicise the plight of some of the world's sufferers of human rights violations.

Mr Nicholas added: “Receiving a greetings card from someone hundreds of miles away can make a tremendous difference, just knowing that people are thinking of you and care about you.

“Cards can also give hope to families whose relatives have disappeared and to people in danger because they are defending human rights.”