HORSE-drawn carriage rides and electric pedal bikes put different forms of travel into top gear during Alternative Transport Day.

The fuel crisis also prompted shoppers and visitors to take a closer look at display stalls along the High Street in Winchester where a wide range of information on green transport initiatives was on offer.

Sponsored by transport consultants Mott MacDonald and backed by the city council, Hampshire County Council and the police, the event on Friday, formed part of the European Car-Free Day Campaign - In Town, Without My Car.

Alternative Transport Day has now become an annual event in Winchester to help raise public awareness of travel issues, encourage people to live healthier lifestyles, reduce pollution and ease congestion.

Staff at the county council's headquarters were tempted with free bacon butties to leave their cars at home for the day and cycle to work.

Meanwhile, fun hi-tech scootcars, which look like sporty beach buggies and the electrically-powered Ford Ecostar - evaluated over two years by the police - attracted the crowds in the shopping centre.

Environmental groups, such as the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Pedestrians' Association and the Railway Development Society were also out in force, along with bus and train companies.

For the first time this year, The Square and adjoining Great Minster Street were closed to traffic between 8am and 6pm.

County council leader Ken Thornber said: "Alternative Transport Day is just a small part of our on-going transport policies aimed at encouraging people to make the connection between their own travel habits and traffic jams."

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