PEOPLE from across the county and even abroad converged on Chippenham at the weekend for the South West Fairtrade Day.

Held in St Paul’s Church, 89 people including the Mayor of Chippenham, Fairtrade community groups and church representatives attended the event which ran from 10.30am-4pm on Saturday.

The conference was addressed by Mike Gidney, director of the Fairtrade Foundation, with the aim of the meeting to discuss sales of fairly traded products that benefit producers in the developing world, with a focus on the Fairtrade Gold initiative.

Jenny Foster, South West Fairtrade coordinator, said: “It’s to encourage local people to support Fairtrade and share good ideas between town groups.

“Chippenham is looking to become a Fairtrade town and Corsham already is one.

“It’s great to come together with outside groups to learn about Fairtrade and the difference that it can make.

“A girl whose father is a gold miner in Peru was able to explain the difference Fairtrade makes, as now she is able to go to university and you’re able to have more opportunities.

“I think people at the event were inspired.”