SHOPPERS make choices which can help - or exploit - the poor, says a leading Gwent churchman who is backing a push to encourage people to buy ethical products.

A campaign is currently under way to obtain Fairtrade status for the Monmouth diocese of the Church in Wales.

The Right Reverend Dominic Walker, Bishop of Monmouth, said he was pleased many churches had already decided to use Fairtrade tea, coffee and other goods, which mean the producers get a fair price for their products.

He said: "At the heart of Fairtrade is justice for the poor and at the heart of the gospel message is social justice, so buying Fairtrade goods should be an aim not only for our churches but for us as individual Christians.

"Nearly every time we shop, we make moral choices which can help or exploit the poor."

Fairtrade Fortnight runs until March 19 and a diocesan action group is encouraging parishoners to spread the word on the issue.

Parishes throughout Monmouth are being asked to pledge to use Fairtrade products at church events.

More than 1,500 Fairtrade labelled products are now available - an 80 per cent increase since 2005 - and 40 per cent of shoppers have bought such items.

And more than 300 producer groups, 50 per cent more than last year, from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia, now benefit from selling to the UK.

Richard Tarran, Monmouth diocesan secretary, was presented with a collection of Fairtrade products for the diocesan office by the Reverend John Dearnley, of the action group.