THORNBURY welcomed a coffee and cocoa producer from Nicaragua to the town to share her thoughts about the Fairtrade scheme.

Angela Jarquin was greeted by all five parliamentary candidates for Thornbury and Yate and the town mayor during her visit on Saturday, February 28.

She is visiting a number of groups and schools across South Gloucestershire to help mark Fairtrade Fortnight.

As part of her visit Angela spoke of her experiences working in the scheme as well as the impacts of climate change on farmers in developing countries.

The event was organised by the Thornbury and District Make Poverty History Group who said that they were pleased with the turnout and that the five election candidates came to show their support.

Chairman of the group, Mark Wallis, said: "There was a good turnout, and a high level of interest in what Angela had to say. Her talk showed what a difference our purchase of fair trade goods here can make to her and other fair trade producers".

Speaking after the visit, mayor of Thornbury, Guy Rawlinson, said: “We were very pleased to welcome Angela to Thornbury and to hear about her experiences as a Fairtrade producer.

“Her visit will serve to remind us of the importance of supporting fair trade as a town, as we look to renew our Fair Trade town status.”

As part of her visit to the UK, Angela Jarquin will also be visiting a number of schools across the region including Castle School in Thornbury, Horton Primary School in Chipping Sodbury, and Winterbourne International Academy.