SCHOOLS from across Cheshire West have shared their support for Fairtrade produce by creating original pieces of artwork.

Pupils’ works – depicting what Fairtrade meant to them – were displayed at St Mary’s Centre in Chester, with Kingsley St John’s CofE Primary School receiving a Fairtrade hamper for their entry.

Entries from 24 schools were judged by the council’s Fairtrade champion, Cllr Julia Tickridge, and Costa Rican coffee farmer Gerardo Arias Camacho – who visited events across the borough as part of a producer tour organised by the Fairtrade Foundation with the support of the European Union.

The schools were also asked to pick a name for Cheshire West and Chester’s Fairtrade giant, choosing LAFT – Let’s Always Fair Trade.

Cllr Julia Tickridge said: “It was a pleasure to judge the Fairtrade art competition with Gerardo.

“We were both impressed with the obvious enthusiasm, ingenuity and quality of the entries from the children and thank all schools who participated.

“It was heart-warming to see our young people are so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Fairtrade and able to communicate this so wonderfully in their art.

“Many of the entries emphasised the relationship between the producers and consumers and how Fairtrade, through the premium that is paid to the producers, is addressing the issue of fairness and equality in the trading of everyday commodities such as tea, coffee, sugar, cocoa and chocolate.

“We decided the entry from Kingsley St John’s C of E Primary School, in addition to being a beautiful piece of 3D artwork, communicated a very strong Fairtrade message. Very well done to them.”