A NORTH-EAST lender has helped a group of African farmers to invest in solar panels.

Newcastle, Shared Interest Society lends money to fair trade businesses across the globe. The firm is able to do this thanks to UK investors, who hold share accounts ranging from £100 to £100,000. These funds provide fair finance to farmers and handcrafters in 66 countries.

Managing director Patricia Alexander said: “Investors want to know that their money is being used ethically and we echo this socially responsible approach in everything we do.”

"We offset carbon emissions (generated by the firm travelling overseas) by financially supporting projects that reduce greenhouse gases in the short or long-term.”

Vanilla farmers Gourmet Gardens, just over the border from Uganda, were the latest beneficiaries.

Shared Interest funded the installation of solar panels to keep its fairtrade vanilla beans warm all year round, which is vital in encouraging the colour and flavour to develop.

Gourmet Gardens operations manager said: “In theory this is simple to do - during the day, beans stay in the sun and at night they are indoors in insulated boxes within a water tank.

“The solar panels mean that we can now heat water even during cloudy or rainy days.

“This ensures that our fairtrade vanilla is beautifully deep brown in colour and has a very intense aroma.”