Businesses are being urged to help schools by passing on unwanted equipment.

Oxford-based Everything Education has launched the free service in West Sussex as part of a regional roll-out across the country.

Its web site has a section for businesses to log any items they no longer need which might still be of use to schools.

Tim Loughton, MP for Worthing and Shoreham, was given a demonstration by the company's team.

Mr Loughton said: "This seems to be an imaginative way of enabling schools to benefit from business.

"I was keen to see how schools in my constituency can take advantage of this service."

Operation manager Louise Murray said: "Our blackboard area has been designed to work on a local basis linking up nearby businesses and schools.

"Businesses often have a much higher turnover of equipment than educational establishments.

"We are encouraging companies to post surplus kit on the site for donation to schools instead of just disposing of it."

www.everythingeducation.org/blackboard/
www.timloughton.com