BIGGAR is celebrating its Fairtrade Town status with a set of banners designed by local primary school pupils.

The banners, which have been installed along the High Street, feature the Fairtrade logo as well as colourful foods and products available through the scheme.

As well as the banners, Biggar Primary School pupils also designed 'We Support Fairtrade' cards to be displayed in shop windows where Fairtrade products are sold.

Janet Moxley from the Biggar Fairtrade Town Group said: "This has been a lovely project, which has showcases the artist talents of Biggar Primary pupils while publicising Fairtrade not only to local residents but to everyone who passes along the A702, The banners will stay up for the next few months, and we hope that they brightened the town during the dark winter days."

She added: "Christmas is a great time to support the Fairtrade movement by giving Fairtrade gifts such as chocolate, wine and flowers which are available from many shops in Biggar"

Pupils surveyed shops around the town to see where Fairtrade products are stocked, and this information will be collected to update the Fairtrade Directory provided by the Biggar Fairtrade Town website.

Money spent on Fairtrade products goes towards the people around the world who are producing our everyday essentials – whether that is sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate, or fruits – and gives them fair pay for their work.

Getting a fair share enables producers to invest in toilets, a clean water supply for their communities, and to send their children to school, helping to lift their families out of poverty.

Ms Moxley added: "Biggar Fairtrade Town Group would like to thank the Scottish Fairtrade Forum and Biggar Community Council/SSE Clyde Windfarm for micro-grants which made the banner project possible and also thank BEAR Scotland for assistance in putting the banners up and MAK Plant Hire for assistance in measuring the banner size."