A PLYMOUTH law firm has become one of the first city businesses to start using a high-tech Quick Response (QR) code.

Curtis Solicitors has put the barcode on all its branding, letterheads, compliments slips, business cards and even on the outside of the firm's Mutley Plain offices.

The QR code is readable by smartphones and an app takes users straight to the Curtis website.

When a smartphone is pointed at a QR code on a business card it give details and contacts for the individual lawyer whose card it is.

This can be saved on the phone, negating the need to keep the card.

"It's working well," said Jane Askew, in charge of marketing and sales at Curtis.

Although invented in Japan in the 1990s, QR codes are only just being used by UK businesses.

The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background.

When the encoded information is accessed via an app on a smartphone it is termed hardlinking or object hyperlinking.

Initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR codes are now used in a much wider context.

"It's different, but they are starting to pop up everywhere," said paralegal Michelle Handley. "We know some national companies use them, but we have not seen many people use it locally.

"We are trying to be the first ones. We don't want to be following a trend.

"It will be on the front of our building. People can walk past and scan it and it's on their telephone for a rainy day, and if they need advice they will have the contact on their telephone."

Set up in 1973, Curtis serves commercial and private clients.