Take the car, have a drink, then give call

10:57am Monday 25th February 2008

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A NEW Bolton company has found a way for you to go out in your own car, have a few drinks and then return home in your vehicle without drink-driving.

All it needs is a call to Scootuhome and a driver with a folding moped will take you and your car home.

The 50cc scooter folds in half and fits inside a leak-proof bag which is placed in the boot of your car and the rider then acts as your chauffeur.

Scootuhome has been set up by two friends - former self-employed electrician Roy Robinson, aged 24, from Farnworth, and Mark Halligan, aged 25, a former decorator, from Stoneclough.

Mr Robinson said: "We saw a similar set-up for London on Top Gear and thought we could do that here in Bolton so we have been putting leaflets and posters around.

"We've talked to the police and we hope to be getting involved in a drink-driving campaign in the future.

"We've also been talking to the car dealers about a day service where we drop-off vehicles for customers who need to take their car into the garage for a service or MoT.

"We can collect their vehicle, or a hire car, from the customer's home and return it to them later.

"We think a lot of our business comes from taking people home in their own cars after they've had a night out so they are not tempted to drink and drive, but we will be available during the day as well.

"People will be able to save money on taxis by driving to their destination and then contact us and we can drive them home in their own car."

The folding bikes are only 50cc and can reach speeds of between 30-40mph.

Both men have traders' motor insurance so they are covered to drive other people's cars.

They will cover a wide area including the town centre as far out as Worsley and Horwich.

Their working hours will be 8am till 11pm. Call-outs after 11pm need to be pre-booked.

The company will charge £5 up to a 1.5 mile radius, with distances between 1.5 to 3 miles costing between £7.50-£10.

Any additional distance after that will cost £1.75 per mile.

Scootuhome can contacted on: 07928 803508 or via email: scootuhome@hotmail.co.uk.