AmazonSmile will see shoppers select a favourite charity to benefit from their purchases

Online shoppers are set to be able to support their favourite charities when parting with their cash.

Retail giant Amazon is inviting registered charities to join its online donations system.

Customers who shop with AmazonSmile can choose a charity to support before they start shopping and the organisation will then receive donations from Amazon at no additional cost to the customer or charity.

"We think our customers will love the opportunity to support a wide variety of charities up and down the country without having to change the way they shop," said Jessica Blum, UK manager of AmazonSmile.

"In the US, Amazon has donated over $69 million to charities since the launch of AmazonSmile and now we're inviting registered UK charities to join and benefit from donations generated by our customers."

The project was initially rolled out in November, with 11 organisations including Stonewall and Marie Curie selected to take part, however now registered charities are being invited for inclusion. Shoppers will be able to donate to a wide selection of organisations from 1 March, with Amazon donating 0.5% of the net purchase price to the customer’s chosen charity.

More information on how to apply to AmazonSmile is available online.