Shoppers in Wolverhampton are to get a loyalty card for using city centre businesses in a bid to boost flagging trade.

Council chiefs are concerned by the loss of major shops such as TJ Hughes and the impending departure of TK Maxx at the end of October and want to encourage more people to use the city centre.

Plans are now being drawn up to provide discounts and rewards to shoppers who stay loyal to Wolverhampton rather than going to big out-of-town centres like Merry Hill.

The City Council has already cut parking fees but there is a campaign by the Wolverhampton Business Group to get the costs cut to as little as 50p an hour.

Proposals are being considered to get retailers to sign up for a scheme that will provide special offers to shoppers however it has not yet been revealed if this will cost them anything.