Anti-poverty campaigners will be delivering a copy of the Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to George Osborne.

Alan Pinch, a Quaker, Stephen Pennells, a Roman Catholic, and Graham Martin, an Anglican, are all supporters of Church Action on Poverty.

They are taking part in the stunt to raise concerns about the impact of welfare cuts on the the poor.

They fear that Britain may be returning to the levels of poverty and contempt for the poor described by Dickens in A Christmas Carol.

The trio will be cycling to the Chancellor's constituency office in Knutsford where they will drop off the festive classic on 14 December.

The 20-mile journey starts at Manchester's Albert Square Christmas Market and stops will be made along the way so that members of the public can sign a statement to the Chancellor.

Pinch said: "It's a bit of festive fun with a very serious message at a time when many families are being forced to choose between heating and eating.

"Chancellor Osborne is at severe risk of turning into a modern day Scrooge, and we want to add our voices to the many calls for him to change track."