A ROYAL Navy Veteran from Haverfordwest is urging serving and ex-service personnel to sign up for a special discount card, which aims to recognise the contribution of the armed forces.

David Griggs, 71, from Haverfordwest saved £2,000 on a new car after signing up for the Defence Privilege Card.

Run by the Ministry of Defence, the scheme gives card holders discounts on a range of goods and services at more than a thousand high street businesses and companies across the UK.

Mr Griggs, who served in the Royal Navy for 35 years, now volunteers as a caseworker with SSAFA, a charity providing support and assistance to current and former soldiers, sailors and their families.

He said it was through his charity work that he found out about the card, which saved him £2,000 on a new Kia Rio, from Gravells of Narberth - more than covering the card's £4.99 sign-up fee.

Mr Griggs said the card went a small way to recognising and appreciating the sacrifices made by serving soldiers and veterans.

“You don’t join the Armed Forces for the money; this is just a way to compensate them for their contribution,” he said.

Ian Gravell, general manager of Gravells, said he was happy to support the scheme: "So many of our servicemen and woman have made sacrifices in order that we can live our day to day lives.

"As a business, I think it is our moral duty to offer this service and be involved."

At present, around 82 independent Welsh retailers accept the card, but Mr Griggs said he would like to see more local traders sign up to the scheme.

“We also need to get the knowledge out to veterans,” he said. “It is so easy to use but you have to know it’s there.”

Welsh Government public services minister Leighton Andrews said membership take-up in Wales was already higher than in the rest of the UK, but he hoped more would also sign up soon.

The Defence Discount Service is available to serving members of the Armed Forces, Reserve Forces, veterans, MOD civil servants, cadets aged 16 or above, spouses and partners of currently serving personnel, and NATO personnel serving in the UK.

For more information, visit www.defencediscountservice.co.uk.