A COCOA farmer from Ghana paid primary pupils a visit to show them how fairly traded products have brought benefits to her community.

Comfort Kwaasibea and 15-year-old Rijayatu, both from Ghana, visited Red Rose Primary School in Chester-le-Street last week.

Comfort and Rijayatu's parents are all members of the cocoa co-operative Kuapa Kokoo.

The co-operative supplies the ingredients for the Co-op's Fairtrade chocolate.

The visit was organised with the help of the Co-op for Fairtrade Fortnight.

Comfort and Rijayatu spoke to the pupils and staff in Chester-le-Street about their very different lives in Ghana and how the farming community works

Deputy headteacher Tom Baker said: "Rijayatu was 15, but had only been going to school for two years because prior to that her father didn't have enough money to send her to school, until Fairtrade came along.

"So the visit to our school really brought it home for the children.

"Now Rijayatu is studying biology, chemistry and physics and wants to go into genetic science. It's been a bit of an eye-opener."