With motoring costs increasing, the WhizzGo club has increased its membership by nearly 20 per cent in recent months and now boasts over 1,100 members, making it the biggest car club of its kind in the North of England.

People pay by the hour for the use of one of WhizzGo's low-emission vehicles and the club estimates members save about £2,500 a year and make carbon savings equal to 4,986 London-New York flights.

Government research indicates that for every WhizzGo car, there are between six and 20 fewer private vehicles on the roads. Members also tend to drive up to 60 percent fewer miles than they did before joining.

To mark its fourth anniversary, WhizzGo has expanded its fleet by launching 13 new parking bays across the city and it is offering four hours free drive time to anyone who joins before the end of October.

WhizzGo deals with maintenance, servicing, breakdowns, cleaning, insurance, road licence and MOTs, with members paying as little as £4.35 an hour for the time they use the car.

Coun Richard Brett, leader of Leeds City Council said: "With the recent increases in fuel prices and the focus on being green, there has never been a better time for clubs such as WhizzGo.

"As we enter our fifth year of partnership with WhizzGo, we need more people working in the city centre to consider leaving their cars at home to help reduce congestion in Leeds.

"WhizzGo offer an easy-to-use alternative to driving into the city and the hassle of finding a parking space.."

Keith Kelly, WhizzGo manager for Leeds, said: "Leeds City Council has played a vital and progressive role in helping WhizzGo to provide the city with a simple yet bold alternative to owning a car. Together, we have been able to tackle head-on the three principal problems of modern motoring by cutting cost, cutting congestion and cutting the city's carbon footprint."

For more information or if you are interested in joining the WhizzGo car hire scheme call 08444 77 99 66. You can also register your details online HERE.