Campaigners and MPs have called on the government not to ditch its commitment to cutting Third World debt.

MPs from all three political parties joined a photocall on Wednesday to urge new international development secretary Baroness Amos not to let the issue fall from the political agenda in the wake of Clare Short's resignation.

The Jubilee Debt Campaign and the World Development Movement organised a handicapped hurdle race for 20 MPs, who were joined by former Olympic athlete Steve Cram.

Competitors raced down a track while carrying sacks representing the debts that developing countries such as Ethiopia and Mali have to pay. They also had to overcome "hurdles" representing the policies of the IMF and World Bank.

The MPs who gathered on Westminster's College Green hoped that while the media focus is on international development they can highlight the issue of debt ahead of next month's G8 meeting in France.

Among those who took part were Oona King, Caroline Spelman and Andrew George.

Labour MP Andy Reed, who won the 30-metre sprint held at the end of the event, said there was cross-party support for action.

"I've just come back from Ethiopia where you can see the effect debt has on ordinary people," he told ePolitix.com.

"Going back five years ago the debt issue wasn't even discussed at G8 meetings. We need to keep the sense of urgency."

Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George said the government deserved credit for leading the world on the issue but had to continue despite the fact that billions of pounds were needed.

"A war in the Middle East costs billions and billions of pounds. If we're going to deal with issues of international peace we have to link that to issues of debt and dislocation," he said.

"We can spend money bludgeoning countries into submission or we can spend it on debt and reconstruction. I think that's a better way of spending the world's resources."

Adding to the topicality of the event, one organiser accused Clare Short of bullying developing countries during her time in office.

Barry Coates, director of the World Development Movement, praised Short for bringing development issues up the political agenda but slammed her enthusiasm for ending tariffs.

"She has been even more enthusiastic than her Conservative predecessors in pushing the poorest countries to throw open their economies to foreign companies in the misguided belief that the unregulated market will deliver poverty reduction, safe water and good health," he said.

"On the international stage, her style has been to bully civil society groups and governments in the developing world, shouting them down when they have not agreed with her."