Hartlepool is the latest North-East town to be given fairtrade status.

Fairtrade ensures decent prices and working conditions for farmers and workers in the developing world.

Towns in the UK can apply for the title if they have a certain number of businesses, cafes and restaurants offering Fairtrade products.

Local supermarkets, schools and businesses have all backed the campaign in the town.

Hartlepool joins Newcastle, Guisborough and Morpeth as Fairtrade towns.

Products such as tea, coffee, bananas, chocolate and even wine are available in the town bearing the Fairtrade logo.

Campaigners in Hartlepool had to meet five criteria for the town to achieve Fairtrade status and have recently heard that all the goals were met successfully.

Garstang, in Lancashire, was the first place to be declared a Fairtrade town in May 2000.

Martin Green, chairman of the Hartlepool Fairtrade town steering group, said: "By buying Fairtrade products, people are helping producers across the world to become self-sufficient and help to take them out of poverty.

"The idea of Fairtrade is that it will always provide an income that will allow the producer to be self-sufficient. It achieves that by dealing through co-operatives.

"It means we are not ripping off ourselves or the producer."

The Fairtrade Town status will be officially declared during the Tall Ships' visit later this month.