A Gloucester-based entrepreneur has launched a business that aims to solve one of life's great issues: Parking.

En Route Parking is a website designed to give people access to cost effective places to park and gives businesses a chance to make money from surplus parking spaces.

It is the idea of Quedgeley-based Kate Vidgen, who has launched the site with help from the Gloucestershire Growth Hub.

Working on a shared economy model similar to that used by AirBnB, businesses who have surplus parking spaces such as pubs, sporting venues and gyms can offer spaces for hire.

These are then listed on the site, giving road users a chance to find affordable parking close to their office

Ms Vidgen has worked in marketing and sales since leaving the University of Gloucestershire and had the idea for the site while on maternity leave.

She said that although the business was in its infancy, the feedback from companies and local authorities has been positive so far.

She said: "It's an incredibly exciting time we have a unique opportunity for the county to be the first to implement the scheme to cut our carbon emissions and reduce congestion.

"We are working with large scale employers across Gloucestershire to implement their own En Route Parking schemes.

This will help them reduce their carbon emissions, help reduce congestion while also improving staff morale, the stress of parking at work and improve overall productivity - the triple bottom line.

"En Route Parking has recently gained endorsement from Gloucestershire County Council.

"The council will be promoting En Route Parking through Think Travel and also utilising the scheme to form part of the Local Transport Plan for Gloucestershire.

"In addition, GFirst LEP will be featuring En Route Parking in their draft Local Industrial Strategy being launched at their Annual Review on September 19."