FAIRTRADE food and drinks have become familiar household goods - but Fairtrade flowers are now being imported from Africa by a local company.

World Flowers, based at Lodge Farm in North Warnborough, is importing cut flowers from farms in Kenya that have just been awarded the Fairtrade mark.

The blooms are being sold in Tesco stores.

Workers on the farms receive a premium from flower sales, which is being used to pay for community projects such as a creche, a training centre for adults and sponsorship for children who want to further their education.

Jim Floor, managing director of World Flowers, said: "Kenya is a poorer country and initiatives such as Fairtrade highlight the work we have done, and continue to do, to bring a better standard of living to local communities.

"We are very proud that this has been recognised by the Fairtrade organisation and we will continue to work alongside them to improve standards in Kenya in the future."