SELF-employed cleaner Trev Butler likes the idea of supporting his local independent shops.

Trev, 48, who lives with his partner, Donna, and their two children in Gilda Crescent, Whitchurch, said the idea immediately captured his imagination.

"I use supermarkets, of course, just like everyone else. But when it comes to fruit and veg, buying bread or meat, then I like to support my local shops. I thought that by using this new currency, then it will help them to thrive.

"If I need a plumber to do a job for me and he has signed up to the scheme, then I can pay him in Bristol Pounds and he will use the money to spend in local shops, too."

Trev used to employ about 12 staff for his cleaning business but had to downsize after losing a lucrative office contract when a national company was able to undercut him by a large margin.

He said: "They took on some of my staff at a lower rate, which obviously they were not happy about and most of the money they made went back to their head office in Birmingham.

"I am Bristolian and have a lot of pride in the city and I want to do what I can to help the local economy."