THREE friends who met at Bromsgrove School have created a smartphone dating app that allows people going to the same place to connect before they arrive.

George Melhuish, Jon Holloway and James Bell created the app, named Outoo, in an attempt to solve the difficulties they personally encountered when trying to meet new people.

Mr Melhuish explained: "Outoo is a product of each of us finding mobile apps and online dating inadequate. We have set about trying to resolve some of the pitfalls we have come across. We wanted to create something that is fun and wanted to create an app that allows users to embrace the unknown and be open to exploring new things.

"Outoo allows you to check into locations you are attending so you can see the profiles of other people going to the same locations at the same time.

“Through mutual acceptance you can then match and begin getting to know each other. With the green light it should be much easier to put your phone in your pocket and make that initial approach in person.”

Mr Melhuish continued: "Having grown up and gone to school together in Worcestershire, Outoo is a product of the area.”

The schoolmates have tested the app on students and venues in the Bromsgrove area and based the application on their feedback.

Mr Melhuish added: “A mobile app coming out of Worcestershire isn’t something you hear about everyday but hopefully it is something that the city will be proud to have been an integral part of."

The trio plan to extend the app into Nottingham and Birmingham before turning their sites nationwide.