KIDDERMINSTER has been awarded Fairtrade status after a three-year battle by a dedicated group of campaigners.

The UK's Fairtrade Foundation approved the town's application after confirming that the required number of retail and catering outlets supplied Fairtrade products for the size of the population.

It had been foot-slogging work for the small band of enthusiasts, led by steering group chairman, Peter Grantham.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted that our application has been successful and I would like to thank all those who have supported the campaign.

"But although we have won the battle, we have not won the war and we must press on with fresh vigour to both maintain the number of businesses supplying Fairtrade products and encourage others to do so."

The steering group also plans to push the Fairtrade message to more schools, several of which already have Fairtrade status, including Wolverley Secondary and King Charles I schools and Franche Community and St John's CE primary schools.

Kidderminster is the third of the Wyre Forest towns to be granted the special status and Mr Grantham said his next dream was for Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley to come together as a Fairtrade district.

The campaign started in July, 2004, initially attracting supporters from various churches in the town and a milestone came later that year when a paper presented to Wyre Forest District Council by planning, health and environmental division officers, Lynette Jones and Dr Vicky Dunn, persuaded councillors to agree that Fairtrade refreshments should be served at council functions.

"We owe a big debt of gratitude to the work of these two ladies, as a lot of areas have had difficulty in persuading their councils to come on board," said Mr Grantham.

Midlands Today presenter, Michael Collie, became the group's patron and was said to be thrilled with the news the application had been successful.

As well as persuading companies of the benefits of supplying Fairtrade products in providing farmers in poor parts of the world with a fair income and a sustainable business, group members have also run a Traidcraft stall at Kidderminster Farmers' Market for the past year.

Stalwart member, Joan Budden, said: "We didn't have much of a clue when we first started but once we got going it snowballed."

A large range of shops and cafes now offer Fairtrade products, like bananas, tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate and wine. Other organisations, including churches and estate agents, have also started serving Fairtrade refreshments.

Anyone wishing to add their support to the Fairtrade cause should contact Mr Grantham on 01562 824523.

Do you support Fairtrade? Is it making a difference? E-mail clive.joyce@midlands.newsquest.co.uk with your views.