Shipley is on the verge of becoming a Fairtrade Town - a status which could boost visitor numbers.

A steering group has fulfilled all the Fairtrade criteria and is about to put in an official application to the Fairtrade Foundation. The Fairtrade mark guarantees disadvantaged producers a fair deal.

Fairtrade products are available in six shops and five cafes in Shipley and Prime Minister Tony Blair was served with Fairtrade coffee at Cuppacare when he visited on his election trail.

Barbara Judd, founder of the Shipley Fairtrade Group, said: "There has been a fantastic ground swell of support for the idea and Shipley is on the verge of becoming a Fairtrade Town.

"If people notice the Fairtrade logo, it may make them want to come here to shop.

"We only needed five stores and three cafes to stock a range of Fairtrade products, but the enthusiasm has been such that we have gone way beyond that number."

Business has increased by 30 per cent in Haworth since it was given Fairtrade status and organisers are hoping the same will happen in Shipley. Bingley and Ilkley are also in the process of applying.

Naomi Barsi, owner of Heaven Scent Cafe in Shipley, has stocked Fairtrade products for the last three years.

She said: "At first, only a minority of people understood what Fairtrade was all about, but now it is more understood and popular. Shipley needs something to encourage shoppers and having the Fairtrade identity could be the very thing."

Shipley MP Philip Davies said: "I am in total support of the application for Fairtrade status because it gives people a reason to come and visit the town.

"This identity will encourage people to make Shipley a destination for shopping.

"There are a lot of people in the constituency who work hard to promote Fairtrade products."

For a town to achieve Fairtrade status, Bradford Council must pass a resolution supporting the idea, Fairtrade products must be available in stores and cafes, a number of businesses and organisations must use the products, there must be press coverage and a steering group must be formed.

Shipley must wait to hear from the Fairtrade Foundation to find out if the application has been successful.