Fair tade ensures workers are paid a fair price for their product

To make the grade, Wrexham had to fulfil a strict criteria set down by the Fairtrade Foundation.

This included a minimum of 24 shops required to sell at least two items with the fair trade logo.

Wrexham council also passed a resolution to support fair trade and provide tea and coffee fairly traded at its meetings.

The scheme aims to ensure workers in developing countries are paid a fair price for their produce and receive a regular income.

Last year, Ammanford in Carmarthenshire was the first Welsh town to receive fair trade status but Wrexham is the first county.

Chris Pilsbury has campaigned for Fairtrade status

The town's mayor Aled Roberts said Wrexham deserves its accolade.

"I think it shows that Wrexham actually does have concerns for the outside world and the third word, in particular to ensure that people do have a fair price for what they produce," he said.

He added that shoppers could now make a difference.

"Whenever you go shopping in a supermarket, actually think about fair trade, think is the money actually going down to the grassroots of the third world where these people are entitled to have a fair wage for the work that they carry out."

A number of shops, supermarkets, churches and schools in the area stock the goods, which come from developing world countries.

'Knowledge

One of the campaign's organisers, Chris Pilsbury said the fair trade status will put Wrexham on the map.

"I'm absolutely delighted but I'm really conscious that this is only the end of the beginning and the work really starts now to deepen the awareness and the knowledge of fair trade," she said.

International trade may seem a remote issue but Wrexham shoppers will have a direct impact on the lives of people in developing countries.