A SUPERMARKET is the first in the country to help customers beat the credit crunch with an innovative ‘bartering board’.

Colne’s Asda launched the pilot scheme, which allows residents to exchange skills and services for free, on Saturday.

The boards, set up by Asda’s general store manager Mark Edwards, offer people the chance to share their skills and cut costs using barter, which founded many of Britain’s original markets.

Customers can use the board to trade services and skills. Some examples include piano lessons being exchanged for guitar lessons and someone offering gardening services for a patio.

A board monitor in the store, which has 47,000 customers every week, ensures any abusive or offensive information is removed.

Customers can leave personal details such as phone numbers but for security reasons are advised not to leave addresses.

Mr Edwards said: “We understand that our customers are feeling the pinch right now and as well as keeping our prices low, we decided to provide a community service that wasn’t for our profit but for local people to work together and beat the credit crisis.

“The barter boards are not only a way for customers to save money but are a return to traditional British community values.

“Colne is a real community store and Lancashire has a great history of trade, so it seemed the perfect place to let customers try their hand at bartering.”

On Tuesday the boards were also set up in Tonypandy, Wales, and Elgin, Scotland, with Einiskillen, in Northern Ireland, to follow.

If successful the scheme may be rolled out nation-wide.

Mr Edwards added: “The fun and friendly nature of the boards appeal to the Asda customer in Colne and is a sign that retailers can take steps to help their customers during these turbulent economic times.”