FAIRTRADE campaigners in Okehampton are celebrating the news that the town has been awarded Fairtrade status.

The designation from the Fairtrade Foundation follows a year of work to raise the profile of goods being sold in the UK which are produced in developing countries.

Chairman of the Okehampton Fairtrade Group Kate Thompson said the town had achieved the five goals necessary to become a Fairtrade town and there had been fantastic support.

Kate said: 'When I first started all this just over a year ago, I remember standing outside Oxfam in the main street with samples of Fairtrade goods and there not really being much interest.

'But over the year people have started to realise the point of it and there has been a lot of goodwill and I am finding now that it is not difficult to get that interest.'

With a population of more than 7,000 people, Okehampton had to have at least three retail outlets and two catering establishments selling two or more Fairtrade products to meet the criteria — but it has, in fact, far exceeded that.

There are now food and drink products and clothing sold in the town with the label.

One of the other goals was to have Fairtrade teas and coffees on offer in workplaces, and businesses, churches, B&Bs and the library and Ockment Community Centre have all supported this.

A steering committee had to be set up, town council support granted and media coverage secured and Kate said she was very grateful to the Times for raising awareness of the Fairtrade campaign in Okehampton.

'I think it is in people's consciousness now that by buying Fairtrade they are helping the lives of people living in developing countries and we hope that support will continue,' added Kate.

The Fairtrade group is hoping to have a display on Edwardian Evening on December 9, and a fundraising fashion show event during Fairtrade Fortnight in March next year.