A PRESTWICH couple have raised over £14,500 for CAFOD by selling Fairtrade products.

Vin and Sue Allerton who are both ardent campaigners and passionate Fairtrade supporters have donated their profits from sales of Fairtrade goods to the international development charity over the last 15 years.

The pair provide a range of products, including food, cleaning products, paper good and craft materials, to Catholic parishes and schools across the Diocese of Salford.

Steve Burrowes, CAFOD’s representative in Salford diocese, said: "When we shop responsibly, we know we are doing something to redress the inequality in our world’s trading structures.

"We’re so grateful for Vin and Sue's support of CAFOD. Fairtrade can make a huge difference to the lives of individual farmers, and communities, across the world."

Last year Mr Allerton represented Catholic Fairtrade supporters at a meeting with Sainsbury's discussing its plans to remove the Fairtrade mark from its own-brand tea, after a petition to the supermarket gained 150,000 signatures.

Mr Allerton said: "I got involved in Fairtrade many years ago as I see it as a practical response to the unjust trading relationship between the rich Western world and poorer farmers.

"The crunch issue is empowerment. Sainsbury’s seem to want to control how the Fairtrade premium is used by farmers and workers – but it should be their own decision.

"I just hope that we can, together, persuade them to change their minds."

Mrs Allerton added: "Working for Fairtrade is a good way of promoting practical justice."