Fairtrade offers coffee producers in the developing world a better deal

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, said more than half of the parishes in the diocese had signed a "Fairtrade Resolution".

The resolution includes a pledge to use fairly traded products like coffee and tea at church functions.

Parishes will also promote Fairtrade and trade justice "through prayer, worship, study and action".

Lancaster and Liverpool were awarded Fairtrade status last March.

All tea and coffee served in their town halls now comes from sources that guarantee to give a decent wage to producers in developing countries.