A pay-as-you-go car club has doubled its membership in Hounslow to 1,000 over the past year.

Streetcar, which hires VW Golfs, Polos and Transporter vans now boasts 15 vehicles in 11 locations across the borough.

"Streetcar’s rise in popularity in Hounslow has surpassed even our most ambitious expectations,” explained Brett Akker, Streetcar co-founder.

“It’s clear that both the recession and the rising cost of owning a car are encouraging people to look for alternatives.”

Members can reserve a car online or over the phone from £3.95 per hour and use smartcards to unlock the vehicle. At the end of the journey the car is returned to its dedicated Streetcar parking bay.