FAIRTRADE campaigners are lobbying more than 300 Kidderminster shops, businesses and other organisations to boost support for the movement.

Kidderminster's Fairtrade status, awarded almost a year ago, is due for renewal and the town has to prove that a percentage of companies and community groups remain committed to selling and serving Fairtrade products.

The town's Fairtrade steering group also wants to see more people using and buying Fairtrade products such as tea, coffee, sugar, chocolate and wine on a regular basis.

A letter has been sent to shops, cafés and a range of businesses, including estate agents, hairdressers and solicitors, from the group's patron, BBC Midlands Today presenter, Michael Collie, urging them to support the Fairtrade campaign.

His letter, which has also been sent to churches, schools and community groups, includes a tear-off slip for organisations to complete if they are already or planning to start using or stocking at least two Fairtrade products.

In it, he states: “From thousands of miles away, farmers and their families supply us with luxuries and necessities that we take for granted, while they themselves often live in poverty because of low payments for their goods.

“But there is a way of changing that. The few extra pence we pay for Fairtrade products on the shelves of local shops give producers food, medical care, education, clean water and better roads and help to reduce corruption.”

Steering group chairman, Peter Grantham, said he hoped there would be a good response to this latest phase of the campaign.

“In order to retain our Fairtrade status, we must prove that we have maintained the level of support required for a town of this size,” he explained.

The steering group also has to show the UK's Fairtrade Foundation, which awards the status, that it is working to spread the message further. Group members have recently launched a series of Fairtrade assemblies, which they are taking round Kidderminster schools.

Mr Grantham added that returning the campaign letter's reply slip had been made as easy as possible, as it could be posted, emailed or deposited in boxes in Mark & Spencer, The Worcestershire Hub at the town hall or Kidderminster Library.