AS PART of this year's Fairtrade celebrations a giant inflatable tea cup began a tour of Crediton for a series of Big Brew events.

The first event was staged at Hedgerow Print on Lord's Meadow Industrial Estate where the inflatable teacup with its Fairtrade logo's was proudly displayed outside the premises throughout the event.

Gary and Michelle Radford have made many changes at Hedgerow Print and are committed to producing print work of the highest standard in their upgraded pressroom.

As the staff at Hedgerow Print were already users of Fairtrade tea and they were happy to support the Big Brew event.

During the event people were able to try a free cup of Traidcraft tea and biscuits and to find out how they could help to improve the lives of tea growers.

Currently in the UK 72 per cent of tea is produced by non-Fairtrade producers.

The Big Brew was held to encourage people to swap their usual cuppa and "leave a tea stain on their table not on their conscience."

During Fairtrade Fortnight, 9 Big Brews took place in the Crediton area at the Boniface Centre, Congregational Church, Methodist Church, Parish Church, St Boniface RC Church, Sandford Parish Church, Hayward's School parents' room, Hedgerow Print and the Townswomen's Guild.

Organiser, Laura Conyngham explained: "Each place ran their Big Brew differently with Fairtrade tea and coffee being served, the showing of a DVD and the presence of the giant tea cup.

Laura added: "Crediton has been visited now by a tea producer, an olive oil producer and a cocoa producer and they all report the difference that Fairtrade makes to them.

" Other schemes may sound ethical or good for the rainforest but they are not as good for the growers - please buy Fairtrade, especially Traidcraft."