THE Body Shop is celebrating its 25th birthday this month and the Warrington shop, in Golden Square, is giving away 50 sets of four of the company's best selling products to our readers.

The company was started by Anita Roddick, and has helped to make its name on issues such as fair trading, campaigning against animal testing, protecting the environment, human rights and promoting self esteem by challenging concepts such as sexism, size-ism and ageism. Said Anita : "I would like to think that any business can make a difference if it puts its heart, soul and sense of humour behind its product." Anita thinks the secrets of the Body Shop's success are principles, passion and product. She said that on a personal note she was celebrating a quarter of a century of encountering people and places that have changed her. "Life is opportunity, that is one golden lesson we can all take away from the Body Shop."

The company's Community Trade policy is based on paying fair prices for natural ingredients so that suppliers benefit from improved economic and social conditions and increased self-respect within their communities.

The samples our readers will receive are : Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion, Hemp Hand Protection, Vitamin E Cream Body Wash and Hand and Body Lotion.

The foot lotion, which sells for £4. 50p, was developed in the early 80s to help to cool down runners' feet, and contains peppermint, menthol, sweet almond oil and cocoa butter.

The hemp hand protection cream is for dry hands, repels water and retails at £6 50p.

The body wash is a cleansing body preparation which leaves the skin soft and costs £3 50p and the hand and body lotion, made with cocoa butter and selling at £4 50p, is one the Body Shop's Community Trade products. The sets of samples will go to the first 50 people who take a cutting of this article into the Body Shop from Saturday, April 28 onwards. No purchase is necessary.