A new discount card encourages shoppers to support embattled businesses at Earlham House.

Traders hope the scheme will help revive ailing footfall, which has dropped by up to 25pc since repair work on the Norwich building started more than a month ago.

The Labour Party has provided 5,000 cards to be distributed to local residents, with a further 1,000 available to pick up in participating shops.

Five businesses have already signed up, and organisers are hopeful more will join, offering varied discounts for shopping at Earlham House.

The scheme has the backing of the Earlham House Residents and Community Association.

Labour's prospective Norwich South parliamentary candidate, Clive Lewis, said it was imperative to maintain Earlham House as a shopping hub.

'These shops are the heart of the community, and keeping them open is something all the community can help with. There's a lot of work going on here, but you can still support these shops,' he added.

Butcher Richard Bray, one of those to sign up, said he hoped the card would boost footfall, which had fallen 15-20pc on the same period last year, while the owner of takeaway Rice and Spice, Iftekhar Alam, reported that his takings were down by 25pc.