STUDENTS have inspired family and friends by staging their first community event.

Year seven students at Darlington Education Village organised the Fair Trade event to raise awareness of the issue.

The students sold Fair Trade products, cakes and drinks and helped to sell raffle tickets, with all proceeds going to the Traidcraft charity.

Teacher Lynne Coulter said: "It was an opportunity for the students to invite their parents and friends and show them what they have done and have learnt.

"By getting them involved in an event like this, it will increase their knowledge and hopefully pass it on to others too.

"We have raised awareness with the children by showing them what we put in our shopping basket can actually affect someone at the other side of the world.

"It is about encouraging the children to make ethical and moral choices."

A DVD about developing countries was shown, and posters and leaflets explaining fair trade formed part of a student exhibition that took place last week.

Student Danika Gilpin, 11, from Darlington, said: "This is a really good idea as it encourages children to buy Fair Trade products.

"Most of the people in Africa are less fortunate than us, so it is our way of helping them."