Top Chiltern politicians were out in force earlier this month to promote Fairtrade Fortnight in Chesham.

A series of events were held in the Chilterns during the fortnight, which ran from February 29 to March 13.

Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan and Mimi Harker OBE, the Chairman of Chiltern District Council, attended Chesham’s Big Fairtrade Breakfast at the Town Hall on Saturday March 5 to promote the town’s Fairtrade status.

Gill Walker, newly appointed Chesham4Fairtrade Chairman said, “The Chesham4Fairtrade team is delighted with the level of support we’ve received for our Fairtrade Fortnight events.

“We’ve shown that Fairtrade makes a real difference to the lives of some of the poorest farmers and workers around the world.

“Now people can see what a huge range of Fairtrade goods are available at reasonable prices, we hope even more people in Chesham will make the easy switch to buying more Fairtrade.”

On Thursday March 3, a free talk was given by local expert Colin Smith - of Smith’s Coffee Company - about how coffee is grown and how money provided to farming communities by Fairtrade was used to provide healthcare, education and agricultural training in developing world countries.

Bags of Smith’s Fairtrade coffee were on sale, with all profits going to the Hospice of St. Francis.

For more information about the local Fairtrade campaign visit www.chesham4fairtrade.co.uk.