A SURVEY of how much is spent in high streets in Devon by community transport users has revealed that almost £11,000 of the £2.3-million a year is spent in Tavistock.

The survey was carried out last November by the Community Transport Associations in Devon when over 4,500 Ring and Ride and Shopmobility service users were asked how much they had spent on their shopping trips during the month.

Some 265 customers used the Ring and Ride service in Tavistock during November.

Across Devon, over the course of a year, more than 34,600 passengers used Ring and Ride and more than 7,000 accessed Shopmobility services.

These services help people who find it hard to get around, to access their local shops and facilities.

For every pound invested by Devon County Council on community transport, almost £9 is spent in the local economy.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation said: 'These figures highlight just how important community transport is in Devon and how it helps to support the local economy.

'Ring and Ride, Shopmobility and other forms of community transport ensure that people are not cut off.

'They connect rural communities with their nearest market or coastal town, helping residents access local shops and other vital services.

'It can make a massive difference to the thousands of people who make use of the transport and it must be remembered that its success is due to volunteers as well as staff.'