Fairtrade campaigners hit the streets of Bexhill

Members of the town's Fairtrade Committee set up a stall at the indoor market in Western Road.

Bexhill's MP Greg Barker met the committee to learn how the scheme promotes ethical practices and products which protect farmers and producers from exploitation.

Mr Barker did a spot of Fairtrade shopping and learned about the committee's launch of the "Big Swap", which encourages local shoppers to swap one of their weekly shopping items for a Fairtrade product with the aim to get a million and one swaps across the country.

Christina Lucey, one of the committee members and from the Bexhill and Hastings branch of the World Development Movement (WDM), said: "We encountered a lovely cross-section of the Bexhill population.

"Most of those we met are using one or more Fairtrade products.

"As well as the thousands of swaps recorded in Bexhill schools and logged on the Fairtrade website, Bexhill can be proud that we have contributed to the million or so swaps recorded nationally.

"Many poor producers of tea, cotton, bananas, and coffee will have a sustainable future free from poverty, the children will have a future by having an education, and have access to a health clinic.

Following on from the Fortnight, Bexhill College is holding a Fairtrade fashion show on March 19.