A MAJOR breakthrough at a West Devon computer company is set to save council tax payers a fortune.

Computer experts have completed months of research into virtual reality technology to create a digitally-mastered representative.

The stunning development involves the creation of holographic replicas of local councillors. Each digitally-created individual would then be beamed from the computer to a prearranged seat in the council chamber — the technique is not a million light years away from the hologram character of Rimmer in the space-age TV sitcom Red Dwarf.

Under the new system, electors would vote as normal for the candidate of their choice. But instead of the elected councillor taking his or her seat, the hologram would be used.

Each hologram would be programmed to register the councillor's opinions on a variety of issues such as their view on public toilets or where he or she stands on dog fouling.

Holograms representing members of political groups would be uniformly programmed. Independents would have a RAP response (Random Access Point of view).

The development comes too late for this May's elections to the 30-strong council but it is hoped it will be in place for the next major poll

in 2003.

Chris Hair, of computer company Tavy Typesetting, said the breakthrough was achieved when he overcame the problem of aligning holographic emitters in each corner of the council chamber.

Speaking from his offices in Tavistock's Brook Street, he said: 'There could still be difficulties with excess vibration distorting the holographic images but we hope to overcome this by stabilising the chamber with a specially-installed power-core backbone.'

Mr Hair said the system required a bank of 12 new Macintosh G3 computers linked by firewire.

He added: 'Even this allows only sufficient processor capability to display 28 images at any one time.

'Budgetary constraints prohibited being able to display every councillor at the same time, but this wasn't thought to be a problem as 100 per cent attendance at meetings is very rare in real life anyway.'

West Devon Council chief executive David Incoll said: 'This is an exciting development and it is such a thrill that West Devon is leading the way.

'It is evidence of the fact that the borough council has wholeheartedly embraced the latest in information technology.

'The process will create a major cash saving on attendance allowances and mileage expenses — we'll even save on the cost of coffee and biscuits at committee meetings.'