Pupils have launched a scheme which will assure a fair deal for traders from developing countries - while honing their business skills at same time.

St Bede's RC School, Lanchester, yesterday became a Fair Trade School. Pupils will be selling cookies, tea, coffee and Geobars made by Traidcraft.

School citizenship co-ordinator Kevin Radforth said the Student Council set up a young people's co-operative with the help of a start up grant of £100 from the North-East Co-op.

He said: "Being a Fair Trade School will raise awareness of social issues among pupils and show them that they can make a difference. It is a means of fighting poverty through trade.

"It also helps to contribute to their understanding of global citizenship."

Mr Radforth said the scheme was run by sixth formers, who handled the three areas of finance, sales and marketing - helping them acquire business skills at the same time.

A percentage of the profits will go to ex-pupil Joanne Hopper, who works with socially deprived children in Peru.

Present at the launch were the Hexham and Newcastle Diocesan Justice and Peace Group chairman John Marshall, the Newcastle Fair Trade Partnership and diocesan fair trade working party member Audrey Marshall and Good Shepherd Sharing Fair Scheme co-ordinator Lucina Wogan.

Fair Trade guarantees a better deal for Third World countries by paying a fair price to traders - even if prices drop on the world market. Fair Trade participants work in ethical conditions in which no child labour is used.