HUNDREDS of Christchurch people have signed a petition urging the council to consider launching the area as a Fair Trade town.

The last two weeks of Fair Trade Fortnight have seen just three events held result in nearly 400 signatures to a petition on the issue.

The campaign to become a Fair Trade town simply asks the borough council to pass a resolution to serve Fair Trade coffee and tea at their meetings and in its offices and canteens.

It also asks them to actively promote Fair Trade through its publications and website so others are encouraged to learn about and use Fair Trade products.

To raise awareness about the campaign, the Christchurch Fair Trade Borough Campaign manned a stall in the Monday market and gave out samples of chocolate, biscuits, and bananas, all donated by the Co-op.

And last Saturday, the stand complete with literature and information, was present inside the Co-op with their free goodies and manned by pupils from Mudeford Junior School.

The school in Mudeford Lane is also working towards achieving Fair Trade School status.

Many churches in the area are also Fair Trade churches and High Cross at Somerford held a Fair Trade event where Waitrose gave a presentation and tasting of some of their products.

Pauline Iveson, part of the Christchurch Fair Trade Group said: “Apart from the benefits to some of the world’s poorest farmers and workers, Fair Trade Town status will enhance the good name of the borough and its residents.

It will support our local community by developing a shared responsibility for the well-being of the global human family.

“There are more than 500 Fairtrade Towns and more than 3,000 Fair Trade products available, aiding 1.5million producers, so buying fair trade is now an easy choice to make.

“We want to collect 1,500 signatures so will carry on campaigning until we do that.”