Lambeth Council voiced its support for Fairtrade on the steps of the town hall yesterday.

Having supported Fairtrade since 2004, Lambeth councillors joined businessmen and locals as part of Fairtrade fortnight, aimed at increasing the awareness of the products.

Lambeth is pushing to become the first co-operative council in the country, citing an ethos of shared responsibility as the core component behind the drive.

Labour councillor Lorna Campbell, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: "Eventually, this is what this local authority wants. The way that the co-operative stick by shared responsibility is something we want to replicate."

Fairtrade ambassadors Elias Mohammed and his sister, farmers from the Ghanian cocoa growing region, read anecdotes in the public meeting to raise awareness of the positive impact Fairtrade growth is having on their region.

The siblings are co-owners of Divine Chocolate, a Fairtrade company with shared ownership, in an example of what Fairtrade can bring to the farmers.

Mr Mohammed said: "We want to buy wellington boots and wheelbarrows for everyone when we next spend our dividends.”

Fairtrade now controls about 25 per cent of cocoa on the market, aiding economic growth in some of the world’s poorest regions.