Pair happy to save money and chat

Then four years ago they decided to lift-share. Since then they've saved a fortune in petrol costs, they feel they're doing the right thing by the planet, and they've also become firm friends.

Mrs Austin, 60, a grandmother and a premises supervisor at the council offices in King George V Road, Amersham, and David, 41, a father-of-one and an assistant estates officer in the same offices, live in the same street in Aylesbury.

Anne's job involves shift work and David often needs his car to go to meetings during the day, but they still manage to lift-share once a week and plan to step that up to twice a week when possible, because of the increasing cost of fuel.

During the journey they never listen to the radio because they are busy talking, often about work, but also about families, holidays and wildlife, an interest which they have in common, and about what's going on in their home town.

Anne said: "We got to know each other through work and found out we live in the same street, so it just seemed like a sensible thing to do, especially as there's not much space in the car park at work.

"It's turned out that it's very nice to have somebody to share the journey with, especially during the dark winter evenings, and especially if you've had a bad day."

She added: "I've noticed that now in Aylesbury there are parking spaces reserved for lift-share cars, which is perhaps something they could consider in Gerrards Cross."

Money never changes hands because Anne and David take it in turns to drive, so one day the lift is in her Renault Cleo, and the next time it is in his Toyota Corolla Verso.