A NEW website that hopes to take chattering over the garden fence to new levels has been launched in Malvern.

WordMouth.com is an interactive site that promotes local services across the UK by recommendations from the general public - in other words, information that is usually passed between neighbours.

The idea for the site came after a conversation between creator Alastair Shortland, of Townsend Way, and friends about finding a decent restaurant.

"The Yellow Pages is great, but how do you know which of the listed entries is going to be any good?" he said.

"The same goes for local traders, community groups and other services. Websites which rate products are already very popular, so why not have a place to rate and comment on local businesses?

"WordMouth enables the general public to discuss their experiences both locally and across the UK."

At the same time, businesses have access to free advertising and can use the site as an easy method to receive customer feedback.

"I believe that WordMouth has the potential to deliver a new, and fairer, way of marketing - promoting services not through money, but through reputation and recommendation," added Mr Shortland.

"It should also help many people find a reliable and professional service, both in the UK and in their local area, removing some of the risk of hiring a rogue trader or receiving poor service.

"The ultimate goal is to pull communities closer together and improve standards of service across the board.

"It is surprising to find that such a simple concept has not been developed into a viable solution already."

Businesses can create a "graphical billboard" to display up-to-the-minute details such as their shop menu, special offers, opening times, awards, history, weblinks and any other information they choose.

The billboard provides a free platform for businesses to communicate directly with new and existing customers and a place for customers to recommend their good service to others.

WordMouth is, at the moment, a single-employee business. But Mr Shortland is looking for support, sponsorship and partnerships.

For more information log onto www.wordmouth.com or e-mail media@wordmouth.com