WORCESTER is struggling to make the final push in order to achieve Fair Trade status, according to the secretary of the group organising the campaign.

Helen Lubin, from the Worcester Trade Justice Network (WTJN), told the Evening News that it needed just three more city shops to agree to sell Fair Trade products, such as chocolate, tea and coffee, to meet the criteria of 18 shops.

"We have enough cafes and other supporters but we just need to get these last few shops, which is really frustrating," she said.

Mrs Lubin said both the city and the people would benefit from being awarded the prestigious yet elusive title.

"It shows that there is a sufficient number of people in the city who recognise the importance of Fair Trade. Also Fair Trade products would be more widely accessible for the ordinary consumer.

"The more places that have Fair Trade goods the more people will be aware of the issue."

She said the next step for the organisation, which is made up of groups including Cafod, Christian Aid and Greenpeace, is to go back to those shops that it has already spoken to and try to convince them to sell Fair Trade goods.

Meanwhile, the WTJN will hand out stickers to those outlets that already sell Fair Trade goods, which can be displayed to inform shoppers that they can buy the products for that outlet.

Seventy-one towns, cities and villages in the UK, including Malvern, have been awarded Fair Trade status.

Last month, the WTJN, with Worcestershire County Council, sent education packs to schools in Worcester to teach children about the issues surrounding Fair Trade.

Any business that is interested in selling Fair Trade goods should contact Helen Lubin on 01905 610580.