Town is awarded Fairtrade status

Fairtrade aims to give Third World producers a fair price for their goods

Painswick in Gloucestershire has been officially declared a Fairtrade town after a four-year local campaign.

The community now has enough shops and businesses offering Fairtrade products to meet the criteria for the status.

The Fairtrade movement aims to give economically-disadvantaged producers from developing countries a fair price for their goods.

A certificate is to be presented at Painswick town hall on Friday by Stroud MP David Drew.

Steering Committee members Alison Robinson and Iris McCormick said the support of the parish council, shops, restaurants, businesses and the school had been crucial to achieving recognition of Fairtrade status.

"It grew out of a deep sense that justice for those who produce goods in the Third World countries is essential to their future and ours," they said.