Customers paying a visit to Keighley's Broomhill Co-op on Tuesday might have had a surprise.

They were greeted with staff dressed up as characters from the Mad Hatter's tea party - a famously surreal scene from the novel Alice in Wonderland.

The costumes formed part of Fairtrade Fortnight, an annual event designed to encourage people to buy ethically produced goods. For the last two weeks, the Co-op has been promoting the sale of fair trade "tea party" products, including coffee, tea and sugar - all supplied by producers who should get a fair price in return for their work.

In order to encourage more people to buy these items, their price has been temporarily reduced by 20 per cent.

The store has also made a special effort to market fair trade wine and chocolate.

Simon Holmes, duty manager at the Broomhill Co-op, said the promotional drive had been a success, adding that people were now keen to buy fair trade goods even without discount offers.

Two more fair trade events take place in Keighley next week.

A fashion show - using clothes made from recycled materials - will be staged at Keighley Shared Church, at 7pm, on Wednesday. Tickets can be bought by phoning 01535 669575. On March 8, a Mad Hatter's tea party will be held at Exley Head Church, from 3-4.30pm. Free tea, coffee and cakes will be on offer.