AN oil buying syndicate is seeking volunteers to help promote the group across Devon.

The Devon Oil Collective is a county-wide oil buying scheme run by the Community Council of Devon and backed by Devon County Council. It aims to reduce householders' annual spend on heating oil through the power of bulk buying.

The Devon Oil Collective aims to have one local co-ordinator in every parish in the county. Their role is to promote the scheme in their parish or village and as members join, to take any orders once a month.

Co-ordinators do not need to handle any money, or do any ringing around or negotiating. A co-ordinator simply collects the orders from their parish and passes them on to the Devon Oil Collective administrator. In return, co-ordinators get membership of the collective for free.

One local co-ordinator for the collective is Julie Moir. She said: 'When I first read about the Devon Oil Collective I thought it was something that we should at least try although I was a little sceptical about the extent to which group buying could reduce prices.

'Now I'm a convert. Members can't lose because the collective gives a money-back guarantee if they don't achieve savings over that amount. I think it's important that those of us living in rural communities support initiatives that are designed to help us.'

Membership of the Devon Oil Collective starts at £24 for a domestic tank. Full details about the scheme, including membership forms, can be found on the Community Council of Devon website http://www.devonrcc.org.uk">www.devonrcc.org.uk or call 01392 248919 extension 290.