A parent created an online advertising service after a school called for families at the school to find new ways to raise money.

Andrew Lyons, whose son attends Abbots Langley Primary School, created Time Renting - an online advertising space for local businesses that already has 150 users.

The Time Renting app is a way for parents who might not be able to make the school fetes, cake sales and various fundraising events to dedicate a small amount of time each month to watch advertising from a local business. The fees that the businesses pay to use the service go directly to the school.

Mr Lyons, who has a background in building digital services, said: “It’s a 21st Century way of raising money for their children’s school and can be used on mobile, email and online. I will shoot videos for businesses willing to advertise and then showcase the video to parents at the school.

“Being a full-time dad, I know time is precious. People can watch these short videos in their own time and the killer point is that they can interact and ask the businesses a question at the end, this means that businesses can validate ideas with mums and dads.

“I want parents to feel like they are doing their bit for their kids without the hassle. In a month we have already got 150 users.”

Roger Billing, head teacher of Abbots Langley School, explained that the school needed more money for equipment and rather than asking parents to dig into their pockets, he asked for their ideas.

Time Renting promises business that their advertisement is being watched and eliminates the risk of add blockers preventing their advert from being seen.

Mr Billing said: “We are really lucky that Andrew came up with the idea in the first place. The key thing is to get parents on board. We’ve got 530 kids at the school, even just half of those parents involved will help local businesses.”

Abbots Langley firm Cheeky Signs has paired up with Mr Lyons to come up with an advertising plan for Time Renting. They plan to have banners, posters and even print onto lino flooring in the school for parents to see.

The head teacher said: “I’m really glad he is one of our dads – I’d be gutted if he was at another school, I’d be jealous of the idea!”

As the money that Abbots Langley School Association raises goes towards buying equipment for the children, Mr Billing hopes the money raised will go towards providing more teaching staff.

He said: “Realistically one of the things we have always done is use the ALSA money to pay for the kids to experience great opportunities. For example, we had a birds of prey display for the children. The money we raise through Time Renting will free up our budget so that we can pay for more teacher support.”