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'The Bean Machine' arrives in Carlisle

A car powered by coffee, nicknamed 'The Bean Machine', is visiting Carlisle as part of Fairtrade Fortnight.

The caffeine machine set the Guinness World Land Speed Record for a car of its kind, and is stopping at the co-operative store on Wigton Road in Carlisle as part of a UK-wide tour.

Conservationist Martin Bacon from County Durham invented the unique car, which is powered using a caffeine waste product- coffee chaff pellets.

"It’s vital that we educate people about the Fairtrade movement and the power it has to change lives.

"I’m sure the eye-catching tour of the Coffee Car will certainly spark conversations around the subject. Whether a coffee-producer in Guatemala or a tea producer in Kenya, Fairtrade enables people to escape poverty.

“The Co-operative was at the very forefront of the Fairtrade movement and has continued its commitment by adding ranges of Fairtrade products every year and we are proud to celebrate 10 years of Fairtrade own-brand coffee, and this fantastic fortnight with our Carlisle shoppers.”

– Guy Ridley, Manager of the Wigton Road Co-operative Food store