A PRESTWICH-based marketing and communications company has joined the battle to clear landmines from war ravaged regions of the world.

The move comes after Appleby Bowers, located in Bury Old Road, secured an account with a leading international charity.

The expanding agency has been recruited by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to orchestrate a sustained PR campaign to promote its worldwide activities and help build a better future for victims of war.

MAG is a not-for-profit non-governmental organisation that assists people affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance. MAG clears and destroys the landmines and leftover weapons that makes areas unsafe after war.

Manchester-based MAG has a sister operation in Washington, USA, and performs vital work in many countries including Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam and northern Iraq.

Appleby Bowers aims to raise MAG's profile and help generate increased funding by launching a UK media relations campaign and corporate and consumer programmes as well as orchestrating an overseas strategy.

The account gain reflects a more ethical approach adopted by the agency following the arrival of business development manager Elaine James.

Appleby Bowers specialise in design, marketing and public relations, servicing a diverse range of clients from international blue chip companies through to more smaller and medium sized enterprises.

Its clients include leading coach holiday operator Wallace Arnold and Europe's biggest vending machine manufacturer, N&W Global Vending.

Managing director Bernie Bowers said: "We have a wealth of PR, marketing and design expertise and are really looking forward to putting it to good use for such a worthwhile cause."