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A RED-HAIRED man has cashed in on his copper locks – by using a “ginger discount card” to save hundreds of pounds on nights out.

Richard Macrae’s pals made the fake ID card as a joke gift for his birthday nearly four years ago.

But since then, he claimed he has used it in bars, restaurants, cinemas and taxis – and saved more than £200.

Richard, 30, from Aberdeen, said: “People have always given me stick about my hair colour but now I’m going out three nights a week and saving a fortune. The joke is on them.

“I ask places if they do the ginger discount and when they look confused, I show them my card.

“Usually, everyone gets the humour behind it. Some wonder if it’s real but most get the joke.

“I’ve saved a couple of hundred pounds – with money off booze, taxis, food and club entries.

“It opens folk up to a bit of banter but I never try for any specific amount of discount. Any money off is always handy. But my reputation precedes me now – I was asked by a security guard if I was the ‘ginger discount guy’.

Comic book illustrator Richard, who is called “Fuzz” by his pals, admitted he’s also had a few knockbacks when he’s flashed the card.

He said: “I’ve tried to use it as ID and it’s worked but I’ve also been turned down plenty of times. I was asked to leave a bar once because the bartender assumed I was too drunk.”

Richard said his card has been popular with gingers and non-gingers.

He said: “Once they see it, people ask about getting one. It’s not just ginger people, anyone who has seen it asks if there are beard discount cards, popped collar ones etc.”

Rik Gillespie, 30, a barman at the JamJar pub, said: “The first time I saw the ginger discount card, I thought it was brilliant. I gave him the discount we would give to students just because it looked so real.”

Barmaid Kirsty Davidson, 24, of the Illicit Still, said: “I thought it was really funny and unique.

“I gave him a 20 per cent food and drink discount. It was all

in good fun and he was a bit of a chancer.”