A giant billboard made of 5,000 bananas was unveiled to highlight the plight of banana farmers.

The board appeared in Clapham Common yesterday (Monday) morning as part of the Fairtrade Fortnight Make Bananas Fair campaign.

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Banana farmers and workers are being trapped by supermarket price wars which are driving down the cost of the fruit.

Five billion bananas are consumed in the UK ever year, but over the last decade prices have halved contrasting with the costs of production doubling.

The Fairtrade Foundation has teamed up with Columbian banana farmer, Foncho Cantillo, to petition the government to investigate price wars.

Real green and yellow fairtrade bananas make up the billboard created by artists Henry Coate and Toby Crowther.

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It took three days and 11 hours to construct and features the image of a fist clutching a banana.

Comedian and supporter Harry Hill said: "While the banana business is booming, not everyone is enjoying the benefits.

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"Price wars in supermarkets, coupled with the rise in the cost of producing bananas, mean many banana farmers and workers are unable to put enough food on the table or provide basics such as education and healthcare. We need a much fairer system."

All of the bananas used to create the billboard were donated to food banks and Battersea Park Children's Zoo.

To sign the petition visit stickwithfoncho.org.uk