FAIRTRADE supporters in Minehead and Watchet have set themselves a new challenge for 2015.

They want all churches in both areas to have adopted the initiative which ensures a fair price is paid to producers in developing countries by the end of next year.

The gauntlet has been thrown down by the Minehead Fairtrade Town Group and the recently formed Watchet Fairtrade Town Group who want all churches to gain the Fairtrade Foundation Status, as well as ensure those that already have it retain their focus on Fairtrade.

The churches will have to achieve three goals - to use Fairtrade tea and coffee after services and other church-organised events, to move on to using other products, such as sugar, biscuits and fruit, and to promote the initiative during Fairtrade Fortnight in February and throughout the rest of the year.

To kick the challenge off, the Fairtrade groups plan to provide samples of Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar and ask churches not currently using these products to do some taste comparison sessions.

Minehead Fairtrade Town Group chairman Ruth Gasperini said: "The members of the Fairtrade groups are convinced that, when church members compare taste and price, they will be happy to change to Fairtrade."

In addition to the samples, the groups will send out Fairtrade posters about the difference the initiative makes to the lives of growers and their families, along with a prayer to be used by all the churches.

The Minehead group has recently celebrated the successful renewal of the town's Fairtrade status - ten years after it was first awarded.

The Watchet group is still working towards achieving the status and will be running a Fairtrade stall at the town's Caturn's night celebrations on November 25.

"Membership of Fairtrade town groups is open to anyone with a passion for fairness," said Mrs Gasperini.

"Schools and businesses can also gain the status."

The next Minehead meeting is on November 12 at 7.30pm at 1 Chestnut Way, Alcombe, with the Watchet group meeting on October 29 at 7.30pm at The Sanctuary in Swain Street.

Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

More information is available at Facebook at fairtrade.westsomerset, Twitter @FairtradeWS, or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected].

Pictured with Minehead's Fairtrade certificate are Ruth Gasperini and her children Sophie and Luca.