SALISBURY Fair Trade Coalition - Salisbury district council and Oxfam - is urging people to celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight, which runs until March 14.

The fortnight was officially launched on Tuesday, with visitors to the city's Market Square being waited on and served fine food and drink.

Butlers paraded the square, serving warming fair trade coffee from Costa and Starbucks and fair trade produce from Waitrose, including delicious chocolate.

There was also a fair trade stall, with experts on hand answering questions.

Other events throughout the fortnight will include a fair trade coffee morning for staff at Salisbury District Council, Salisbury Cathedral Cafe launching its new line of fair trade teas and coffees, Bishop Wordsworth's School will be holding a fair trade cafe for the whole two weeks, as will the Baptist Church in Amesbury, and Waitrose will be holding tastings and promotions of its fair trade products.

The council's portfolio holder for environment and transport, Dennis Brown, said: "The aim of fair trade is to help farmers in the third world receive a fair price for the food and drink they produce.

"For example, Oxfam has calculated that, if one person drinks one cup of instant coffee each, the average cost equates to £12 a year: the farmer who produces the coffee only receives 50p

"Buying fair trade products is something relatively simple that we can all do to help these third world farmers receive a fair price for their produce.

"So please support fair trade, not only during the promotional fortnight but throughout the rest of the year as well."

To find out more about the fair trade fortnight and events taking place, call the council's environment community development officer, Vicky Fletcher, on 01722 434381.