CHARITABLE residents are celebrating this week, after finding out their community has become the first in Hertfordshire to be officially recognised as a Fairtrade Village.

Members of the Datchworth Fairtrade Group have received confirmation that months of work has finally paid off, after a concerted push by villagers to promote Fairtrade products and help end poverty in developing countries.

The village played a considerable part in the recent Fairtrade Fortnight, as previously reported in the WHT, when residents contributed to the Fairtrade Foundation’s world record-breaking attempt to create the longest bunting chain from ethically-sourced cotton.

After achieving Fairtrade status before the village fete in June, group member Ron Hulman said the next goal was to get as many people as possible to regularly swap one item of shopping for a Fairtrade product.

“We must keep in mind the whole time the reason this is so important,” Mr Hulman said.

“It is to save adults and children from abuse and slavery in disadvantaged communities around the world.

“We will continue to work with local organisations and the community as a whole to further promote the take-up of Fairtrade products.

“This will include the use of Fairtrade products at the village fete in June.”