A vote will be taken on whether to make a county Fairtrade.

East Sussex could take the first step towards becoming the second Fairtrade county in England when county councillors meet on July 26.

Somerset is the only English county so far to gain Fairtrade status.

Ruth O'Keeffe, county councillor for Lewes, is gathering letters of support for the proposal from each of the county's 44 electoral divisions.

Lewes became a Fairtrade Town last year. Supporters can email Coun O'Keeffe at rok@supanet.com Wednesday, July 2 2005