IT was essential for Tavistock Chamber of Commerce to grasp the challenge of information technology, chairman Philip Hartnoll told members last week.

He outlined the organisation's plans to use a website to promote members' businesses at the annual meeting at the Bedford Hotel, on Monday, February 4.

Mr Hartnoll said embracing IT would see the chamber boasting a website providing e-mail and internet access for members without these facilities.

The website would link not only with members' homepages but also with other town-orientated sites such as the Times' 'Tavistock-Today' and Tavistock Town and West Devon Borough councils' websites.

Mr Hartnoll emphasised the need for the chamber to reach out to all businesses in the Tavistock area, not just the High Street traders, and saw this as an opportunity to make available a service to all Tavistock businesses.

He also thanked all those who had helped in last year's achievements, culminating in one of the most successful Dickensian Evenings to have been held by the chamber.

Mr Hartnoll was unanimously elected as chairman, having held the post for much of the past year following Barry Highfield's unfortunate illness.

New members joining the executive were: Martin Legg of Tavistock Cycles, Jan McDonald of Grenville Estates, Janet Knight, Silver Surfers and Lyn Hudson from Abbeymead Natural Health Centre.

Existing executive members who were re-elected were: Kelvin Stagg from Tavistock Tourist Information Centre as vice chairman; Pam Walke from Richard Walke Motor Services, treasurer; Guy Talbot from Francis Clark, secretary and Dave McDowell from Kountry Kit.

The chamber of commerce meets on the first Monday of each month at 7.30pm, kindly hosted by the Bedford Hotel.

Meetings are open to all business people in Tavistock, non-members are welcome to attend.