THE FAIRTRADE group in Aberystwyth is at risk of collapse over a lack of volunteers, councillors have heard.

The group, responsible for making Aberystwyth one of the first towns in Wales to gain the status, has been struggling for members and comes after the “driving force” behind the movement, group secretary Arnold Smith, stepped down.

The Cambrian News reported last month that Aberystwyth town councillors agreed to take over some of the work involved in running the town’s Fairtrade group in Mr Smith’s stead including the administration and renewing the town’s status for the next three years.

A meeting set up to discuss the issue only attracted a handful of members however, with only one willing to help out.

Cllr Mererid Jones, part of the Fairtrade group, told councillors at a meeting last Monday: “Only four members attended the last meeting with only one willing to take on any of the jobs. We’ve had to convene another meeting this month."

Ceredigion as a county, plus Aberystwyth University as an institution also have Fairtrade status.

Another meeting of the Fairtrade group will be held on Monday, 9 November at 5.30pm at St Paul’s in a bid to get more people involved.