PLANS for a vehicle-sharing scheme in County Durham will be unveiled next week.

Durham County Council hopes voluntary and community organisations, schools, colleges and councils will take part in the scheme to boost public transport.

It is hosting a seminar called Working Together at its headquarters in Durham City on Wednesday.

The council says the event will interest anyone involved in the community and voluntary transport sector and representatives of groups or individuals who have transport needs.

Community transport initiatives will be outlined and there will be a question and answer session.

Speakers will give presentations on community car schemes and car clubs, as well as proposals for a travel response centre and the vehicle-sharing scheme.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, who will open the event, said: "The aim of the new response centre and vehicle-sharing scheme is to integrate a number of projects which operate mopeds, community cars and minibuses. This will then free up transport that might not be fully utilised at present."

The county has about 89 operators of non-profit minibuses with more than 200 vehicles.

They include schools, community transport organisations, Scout groups, social services, ambulance services, colleges and councils.

The vehicle-sharing scheme will offer them extra income through vehicle hires to other organisations, access to back-up transport in case of breakdowns, minibus driver training for volunteers, better publicity and increased use of vehicles, which can all attract funding

The event will be held from 9.30am to1.30pm at County Hall and all interested individuals or groups are invited to attend.

Afterwards, a training session on how to claim the new fuel duty rebate for community minibuses will be held for minibus owners and operators.