PUPILS keen to support a village Fairtrade campaign have been putting their baking prowess to the test.

Fairtrade Wheatley is working with Wheatley Park School for a Fairtrade bake-off, challenging children in Year 8 and 9 to compete using ethically-produced ingredients.

Some pupils and staff at the secondary school, in Holton near Wheatley, sit on the village's Fairtrade steering group and are taking part to raise money for the Fairtrade Foundation.

Steve Pearson, the school's deputy headteacher, said: "We always aim to educate the whole young person, not just in academic subjects, but in how we can play our part to create a better and fairer world.

"Fairtrade challenges us to think about the source of goods we buy.

"We are proud to be strong supporters of the Wheatley campaign to become a Fairtrade village."

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A Year 11 pupil has organised the competition alongside food technology teacher Georgia Wardlaw.

All the ingredients in the competition, such as chocolate and sugar, must be Fairtrade and pupils are also encouraged to use locally-sourced products.

'Star bakers' have been rewarded for their efforts in the rounds, which included a technical challenge and a show-stopper yesterday, inspired by the Great British Bake Off on television.

The first round, held the week before last, saw Pearl Blaker and Trinity Jamieson named champions for their checkerboard-style sponge.

John Guy, chairman of Fairtrade Wheatley, said: "This is a fantastic initiative by students to challenge the village to think more about purchasing habits.

"Deciding on a Fairtrade bake-off was in inspiration."

He congratulated students who helped to organise the contest in the midst of their GCSE mock exams.

Fairtrade Wheatley is the steering group working to promote Fairtrade in the village, near Oxford.

The initiative favours produce that promote workers' welfare and ensures fairer payment.

It secured the backing of Wheatley Parish Council in June and has several events planned to raise awareness, including a Fairtrade wine-tasting evening in February.

Recently the popular Indian restaurant in Wheatley, Cinnamons, switched to Fairtrade tea and coffee.