A community group is appealing for drivers to come forward and help get a car sharing scheme on the road.

Oxford’s Low Carbon Headington group is setting up a scheme similar to Oxcar in East Oxford – with a fleet of cars to rent out to local motorists.

The idea is to cut the number of privately-owned vehicles in the area, and it is aimed at people who do not use a car very often. Drivers rent the cars by the hour, day or for longer periods.

Richard Bradley, from Beaumont Road, is helping to set up the club. He said: “If you do around 6,000 miles a year, or less, or if you have a second car, clubs like this can be very cost effective.

“It means people don’t need to worry about paying for MoTs, repair bills or car tax, and the price of fuel and insurance is included.

“We are hoping to get four cars to use but if people want to lend their car to the scheme that can have big benefits for them too.”

The cars will be bought on behalf of the group by national not-for-profit charity Commonwheels, which sets up car sharing clubs around the country and helped establish Oxcar.

Members can also supply their own cars, with Commonwheels then paying for the MoT, upkeep and insurance.

Joining the scheme is free, but members are required to pay a refundable £150 deposit. Communal cars will be parked in local streets and can be accessed with a card-style key.

Drivers will be able to rent the vehicles for about £4 an hour, plus a mileage fee for more than 10 miles, and will be billed online.

Oxfordshire county councillor Roz Smith, from Weyland Road, said she would be willing to donate £2,500 of her own money towards administration to get the scheme going.

She added: “We have been inspired by the other car clubs and feel the expense of running a car is something a lot of people can do without during the credit crunch.”

For details, contact Mr Bradley on 01865 308600 or go to headington.org.uk/lowcarbon awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk