A CAR-sharing initiative in Tavistock is appealing for more members to use the service, otherwise it may be forced to move elsewhere.

The Tavistock Car Club, which offers the use of a car to people who do not want the cost of buying and maintaining their own car just to use for an occasional trip or a few journeys a week, is not being used enough to make the service viable.

The car club is currently looking at ways to reduce costs of running the service, in a bid to keep it available to the people of Tavistock.

Car club member John Stuart said: 'There's currently around six or seven active users at the moment, but we need 15 or so to make it viable. It is not in a good financial place and has been subsidised by other car clubs over the past year, so we are looking at ways of cutting costs.'

The car club has been investigating ways to reduce running costs and said it has been in discussions with West Devon Borough Council about the possibility of a free parking space in Bedford Car Park. The car currently has a designated space in the Guildhall Car Park at a reduced rate, but the offer of a free space could save around £400 a year.

Mr Stuart said the club was also looking at other options, such as having a key safe near the car's designated space rather than the current electronic system and recording mileage by pen and paper rather than digitally.

The Tavistock Car Club is part of the E-cocars co-operative, which has a number of clubs across the UK.

Jeremy Farr, from E-cocars, said: 'Tavistock hasn't got as many members as we had hoped.

'We are trying to generate more interest. The idea of the car is to cut congestion, cut parking problems and save people money.

'It's a no brainer — we cannot carry on buying private cars and clogging up the streets.

'Car clubs can be very successful, it just takes the local community to recognise its potential.

'I would encourage as many people to support the car club as possible — the best way to support the car club is to use it.

'If it is not used in Tavistock, it needs to go somewhere where people will use it.'

The car club offers the opportunity to use a car without the cost and hassle of individual car ownership. Users pay a membership fee and then an hourly rate and mileage when they use the car.

All tax, insurance and repairs are paid for by the club.