An entrepreneur's new discount card venture could generate income for independent shops with a spin-off for charity.

Rod Crothall, managing director of Brighton IT agency Synergy.com, has launched the Brighton and Hove Gold Card scheme offering discounts at 500 stores.

The card is geared to creating more business but only for local, independent, companies in Brighton and Hove.

Discounts encourage people to spend their cash in the city, rather than shopping elsewhere.

Residents can buy a card for £10 but then get a discount at participating stores.

Each time a card is sold, £2 will be donated to the Rockinghorse Appeal, which raises money for the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in Brighton.

Hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, tourist attractions, carpenters, plumbers and builders have already signed up to the scheme in the city.

The concept is based on store loyalty cards but will not limit owners to just one or two businesses.

Mr Crothall has had 10,000 of the cards printed, which means the Rockinghorse Appeal could be in line for £20,000 if they are all sold.

Simon Taylor, a spokesman for the appeal, said: "I am hoping something like this can become a big thing. It should benefit everyone."