A POLITICAL storm is brewing over the council's use of tea bags.

Opposition councillors have criticised Lewisham Council for using non-Fairtrade tea bags two-and-a-half years after it agreed to switch to Fairtrade products.

The council says visitors to the town hall are having to enjoy a non-Fairtrade cuppa, because old stocks of tea bags are still being used up.

Councillors passed a Green Party-led motion in February 2003, to agree to use Fairtrade supplies only.

Green councillor Darren Johnson is leading the lobby kicking up a storm in a tea bag about the council's current practice.

He says he finds it "hard to believe" the old bags are still being used, nearly three years after the switch to Fairtrade was agreed.

Cllr Johnson said: "It's a mystery to me.

"This old stock must be bigger than the European butter mountains.

"It is a very green argument to save on stock but to still be using the old tea bags two-and-a-half years on doesn't seem right to me."

The Brockley ward councillor put his cuppa to one side to raise the issue at last week's full council meeting.

In a written response, member for resources Councillor David Whiting said "old stocks of tea bags are still being used".

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Whiting assured councillors any future orders will be for Fairtrade products only.

Cllr Johnson added: "Next time I go to the town hall I look forward to enjoying a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee."

Lewisham was formally recognised as a Fairtrade borough in March this year, by campaign group the Fairtrade Foundation.

The status reflects the council's efforts in asking residents to support Fairtrade and encouraging businesses to sell Fairtrade products.

Facts about fairtrade items

l Fairtrade products were first sold in the Netherlands in the late 1980s.

l Currently around 850 Fairtrade products are on sale, with everything from Colombian coffee to Tanzanian tea available.

l The Fairtrade Foundation estimates the sale of Fairtrade products protects the livelihoods of 500,000 workers and farmers in the developing world.

l Sales of Fairtrade products topped the £140m mark last year. An estimated 40 per cent of this money goes straight to the developing world.