Anyone uneasy with the over-indulgence and commercial frenzy of the festive season is being offered the chance of enjoying a guilt-free Christmas.

The Brighton and Hove branch of Oxfam is encouraging people to buy ethically-produced goods to make it a Fairtrade Christmas.

Fairtrade items, including Christmas cake, toys, wine and even crackers have gone on sale at venues across the city.

The appeal is part of the group's campaign to see the city granted Fairtrade status.

Fairtrade ensures growers and producers from developing countries are given a fair price for their goods and that their working conditions are adequate.

Oxfam spokesman Jeff Clark-Meads said: "Buying Fairtrade is really entering into the Christmas spirit. It is not difficult to find Fairtrade goods in Brighton and Hove and the food tastes great.

"A Fairtrade present is a present that gives twice."

Infinity Foods in North Road, Brighton, sells a range of Fairtrade foods, including Christmas cake and pudding.

Co-operative member Phil Brown said: "Christmas is a great time to support the Fairtrade message.

"Awareness of Fairtrade products has increased rapidly during the last few years and there is a huge range of products. Prices are getting increasingly competitive."

Mr Brown said a commonly-held assumption that Fairtrade food did not taste as good as other produce was wrong. He added: "The Fairtrade Foundation have tried to make sure the Fairtrade symbol is equated to quality."

Chetana Parmar, 36, set up her company Baby Hut from her Brighton home three years ago.

She sells baby-carrying products and dolls, bought from a Fairtrade co-operative in India.

The doll-makers are given a fair wage so they can afford to send their children to schools rather than out to work.

Volunteers from Oxfam are contacting cafs, pubs, coffee shops, craft shops and supermarkets to discover which are selling Fairtrade goods and which would like to.

A set of agreed principles has been drawn up by the international Fairtrade Foundation, which gives products, ranging from cocoa to bananas, its stamp of approval.

To gain Fairtrade status, Brighton and Hove has to meet a list of criteria outlined by the foundation, which includes making sure at least one retail outlet in every 5,000 and one catering outlet per 10,000 sells at least two Fairtrade products.

Anyone interested should call 01273 552732.