A MAJOR regional food festival will have a third world flavour this year thanks to a new deal with the Co-op.

The Wear Valley Food Festival, taking place on April 12 at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, will sell Fairtrade goods for the first time in an attempt to promote closer links with third world producers.

The Bishop of Durham the Right Reverend Tom Wright, who lives and works at the Castle, supported the move when it was launched today.

He said: "I don't suppose there could be a better collaboration.

"For too long the capital-rich economies of the developed world have taken too much from the developing world and given very little back.

"The Fairtrade scheme helps redress the balance by providing outlets in the United Kingdom ensuring farmers, producers and craftspeople are paid a fair price for their product.

"It is only through schemes like this that we can begin to address the issue of supporting emerging third world economies."

Fairtrade products on sale at the festival will include tea, coffee, cotton and textiles.

Suzanne Heron, the Co-op's North-Eastern and Cumbrian secretary, said: "We were the first major retailer to champion Fairtrade and through it we are encouraging poorer farmers to help themselves out of poverty because we don't believe it is right they should be disadvantaged.

"The festival provides a great opportunity to introduce new people to Fairtrade products."