TWO Christmas events in Wyre Forest will get people in the festive mood while helping disadvantaged producers in the developing world.

The Traidcraft Christmas Fair will be held at Bewdley's St Anne's Church on Saturday and at Kidderminster's St Mary's Chantry the following Saturday.

There will be a huge selection of crafts, gifts, jewellery, Christmas cards and trimmings made by small producer groups in the developing world.

Fair trader, Elaine Barbour, of Valley View, Bewdley, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to buy gifts and craft items.

"We are used to seeing fairly traded tea, coffee, bananas and biscuits in the supermarkets but there's a great range of beautiful handmade products, like baskets from Malawi, silk scarves from India and jewellery from Peru, that are less well known.

"Around half of Traidcraft's annual sales are through volunteers like me and there are now over 5,000 of us in Britain."

She added: "It was a special joy to be the top fair trader last year.

"That's down to the great support of the people of Wyre Forest and I'm hoping I will be keeping that top slot again this year."

"It's hard work but so worthwhile being a fair trader. I met several of our producer group partners recently.

"They were bubbling over with gratitude that we help them to sell the results of all their hard work and improve the lives of thousands of people who lack the basics of life, like clean water, electricity, education and health care.

"It's so good to know that doing simple things like buying Fairtrade when we shop can make such an impact," she added.

The Christmas Fair in Bewdley runs from 10am until 4pm and in Kidderminster from 10am until 3pm.

There will also be photos of celebrities such as comedians Lenny Henry and Harry Hill promoting Fairtrade products.