DELEGATES from North Tawton took a starring role at a county-wide seminar in Exeter on Tuesday aimed at developing renewable energy sources on a community basis.

North Tawton was one of five communities in Devon to sign up to a pioneering Euro-project linking Devon with Salzburg in Austria.

Cash to the tune of 100,000 Euros has been awarded to the joint EU Altener action programme 'Solar Devon and Salzburg', which funded the seminar at County Hall.

Paul Baker of the town's Environmental Trust said its feasibility study investigating alternative forms of energy had attracted national interest.

He said: 'We are the only community that has ever attempted to do this type of study — it has given us a lot of recognition.'

Mr Baker said being part of the seminar helped the Trust in two ways.

'One is that it enables an exchange of information and knowledge between the two countries and communities — a lot of projects in Austria are so much more than ours,' he said.

Mr Baker said important links with other experts in the field of renewable energy would also be forged as a result of the signing up to Solar Devon and Salzburg Project.

A further trip to Austria is planned for this autumn, with travel expenses funded by the Altener Project.

The trust has identified three alternative energy sources which they want to investigate further — windpower, biomass combustion and anaerobic digestion. A brief is being drawn up and the trust will engage a consultant to take the project forward.

At the seminar, energy experts, university lecturers and leaders of community-based projects looked at ways of tackling global warming and protecting the environment on a local basis.

Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council's environment chairman, opened the conference.

She said the project allowed communities like North Tawton to become 'pioneers'.

Cllr Rogers said: 'I really welcome this initiative and give praise to the vision of those communities agreeing to take part.

'With global warming and climate change already affecting us directly in Devon through phenomena such as flooding, it is essential we look very carefully at things like developing renewable energy courses.

'I hope what we learn with communities over the next few years will be of great benefit to many others in the future,' she said.