WORKERS in East Lancashire are following Peter Kay’s lead in their daily commute.

Share Wheels, a scheme that sees people give lifts to other workers who heading the same way, is growing – and it’s predicted to get bigger thanks to the hit TV show.

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Peter Kay’s Car Share comedy saw assistant manager John Redmond (Kay) and promotions rep Kayleigh Kitson, played by Sian Gibson, chatting in his Fiat 500 as Forever FM plays on the car’s radio.

Now the concept is expanding with hundreds of people in East Lancashire sharing their journeys.

The Shared Wheels scheme is a partnership between Royal Blackburn Hospital, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Lancashire County Council.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member regeneration, commented: “Car sharing, as recently highlighted by Peter Kay’s TV show, has a number of benefits in that it helps reduce congestion on our roads, is better for the environment, helps to save people money in these tough financial times and enables them to meet new friends.

“The website has a database of more than 4,300 people registered across Lancashire which means there is a good chance a lift sharing opportunity is available for many people.”

The hospital in Blackburn is also set to change its parking rules to boost the Share Wheels scheme.

Cllr Riley further added: “They are now set to introduce car share-only parking spaces to further encourage people to lift share for the journey to work.”

Users describe it as “equivalent to a £2,500 pay rise” and participant Tammy Jones said sharing is “the logical thing to do”.

Tammy Jones commented: “I was sitting alone in my car, and I could see other people in their car sitting on their own, and I thought ‘this seems crazy’.

“That they should be driving exactly the same way as me, arriving probably exactly the same time as me, in our own individual cars.

“Why aren’t we sharing?”