A Norfolk online company is celebrating the news that it is to receive a coveted Queen's Award for Innovation.Attleborough-based liftshare.com Ltd has helped save UK motorists 50 million car miles through its on-line journey matching software.

A Norfolk online company is celebrating the news that it is to receive a coveted Queen's Award for Innovation.

Attleborough-based liftshare.com Ltd has helped save UK motorists 50 million car miles through its on-line journey matching software.

Now in its 10th year, liftshare started from the humble beginnings of a student notice board and was the vision of Norfolk entrepreneur Ali Clabburn.

Today over 220,000 people have registered with the liftshare network and more than 1,000 local authorities, businesses, universities, hospitals, festivals and other community groups have worked with liftshare to establish their own car share schemes.

A typical member saves themselves around £1,000 and 1 tonne of CO2 per year by sharing their daily journeys.

Liftshare's founder and managing director, Mr Clabburn said: “Sustainable innovation is what liftshare is all about and a Queen's Award really encapsulates what we are trying to achieve - our high standards and the effectiveness of our journey matching software has earned us a reputation as car share pioneers not only within the UK but globally. Every week we are typically setting up three more companies with liftshare's schemes. The Queen's Award will give us a massive boost in building our reputation both at home and abroad.”