A DEDICATED takeaway ordering app which aims to help Barrow takeaways keep costs down is expanding with the launch of a new app.

Barrow Eats was set up last year by entrepreneurs Scott Beckman and Sam Cunningham in a bid to offer a more reasonably-priced, and local, version of Just Eat.

Within the first few weeks the Barrow Eats website and app was attracting up to 1,000 orders a week and now bosses have confirmed they have passed the 60,000 milestone.

For the last six months Mr Beckman and Mr Cunningham have been developing a new app which is set to go live on Wednesday April 23.

The new app will include a review section, live order tracking and a loyalty system to reward regular users.

"Whilst the current version 'does the job' we would like to offer users a much better and quicker experience when ordering takeaways with us and that's what the new app will provide," Mr Beckman said.

The new app will allow users to pay via Apple Pay and Google Pay and PayPal will be added in the coming months.

More than 30 local takeaways are now signed up to Barrow Eats.

"We are currently saving local takeaways up to £800 a week in fees in comparison to Just Eat; that’s money staying in the town and being reinvested," Mr Beckman added.

Just Eat charges a £700 set-up fee while Barrow Eats charges £199 which is refunded if a takeaway decides to pull out of the scheme.

The ordering apps also take a commission per order; with Just Eat taking 14 per cent plus VAT while Barrow Eats charges less than a third of that.

A spokeswoman for Just Eat said: "Just Eat works with over 28,500 restaurant partners across the UK, many of which are family-run or independently-owned businesses.

"We have a track record of helping our partners grow whether it's through access to consumers online that they may not have been able to reach, or our investment in technology and marketing to help businesses raise their profile and attract more orders.

"Our dedicated Restaurant Services team also brokers deals to give our restaurant partners exclusive access to a suite of offers and discounts from utilities to wholesalers, helping them to make significant savings.

"We're committed to adding value to our partners’ businesses on a daily basis, and many grow and flourish through working with Just Eat."