A car-sharing club has been given £25,000 to expand after the number of users soared.

Brighton and Hove City Car Club began with nine people sharing one car in Hanover ward just over a year ago.

Since then, the club has rapidly expanded to six cars and 65 members and developers working on sites at Brighton station, the marina, Preston Barracks and the King Alfred have all shown an interest in joining.

Project manager Simon Bannister said their interest could kick-start a car club boom.

He said: "Green travel is in the planning conditions for many developments and car clubs will benefit from that. In the marina development of 1,500 flats by Brunswick Properties we are looking to provide between ten and 20 cars. In the station development, Bioregional Properties and other developers are likely to support the introduction of up to ten cars, the first in late 2005.

"At Preston Barracks and the King Alfred, final decisions are still a way off but we are in talks with developers.

"We have also received significant interest from areas like Poets Corner, Powis Square and Brunswick."

Next year the company will expand to base cars in Walpole Terrace, Kemp Town, from February and in Prestonville from the spring.

There are already four car stations in Hanover and one in Springfield Road, Preston Park.

In the past year, membership rose by five people a month on average.

Shared cars covered more than 36,000 miles in the club's first 12 months and were in use for 8,544 hours.

At least 12 members have given up their cars and estimate their car miles have been reduced by up to 75 per cent through the use of the club, public transport, walking and cycling.

It costs £75 to become a member of the car club for a year, £2.80 an hour to hire a car, and 17p per mile travelled.

Coun John Turton, vice-chairman of the environment committee, confirmed the council's commitment to car clubs and its £25,000 backing.

Amanda Brace, 39, sold her Nissan Micra after joining the scheme and estimates she saves at least £500 a year using a car a few times a month.

She said: "It's easy to book and about 80 per cent of the time you can get a car within half an hour."