As part of our ongoing Let's Go Green Campaign, the Mercury is encouraging readers to leave their motors at home just for one day.

The date set is Friday, October 17.

On the day we want people to walk or cycle to work, get the bus, the train or at least car share. Or you could be going shopping and choose to shop locally instead of heading to a nearby city or out-of-town shopping centre.

We're not bothered about where you are heading or how you get there, just in a way that eliminates or at least reduces the use of the car.

Take a bus, coach or canoe, just cut down the car miles.

In the end it can make sense, environmentally and financially.

Everyone who signs up will feature in our roll of honour. Several organisations and businesses have already backed the campaign.

Mercury editor Eileen Green said: "This campaign is all about getting people to stop and consider if they really need to use their cars, add to carbon emissions and spend money on petrol.

--
Click here to add your name to the Cut the Car Miles Roll of Honour. We want to know how many miles you will save and how you will be travelling
--

"We won't save the world in a day, but it's something everyone can take part in.

"If you need to take you car for work, try to take someone with you or if you're out on appointments, see if you can walk.

"Have a go at public transport, your never know if it could be a better, cheaper and more convenient alternative. The aim of the day is to at least give something different a try.

"We want people to let us know how many car miles they have saved so we can add them all up to publish the following week.

"Staff at the Mercury will be walking, cycling, car sharing and getting public transport on the day so please come on and join us.

"The day is also about having a bit of fun."

Earlier this year, the Mercury highlighted the environment as an issue everyone had to start taking responsibility for and launched the Let's Go Green campaign.

We started making more conscious efforts to recycle and save energy at the office and gave away 1,000 reusable shopping bags.

We have constantly highlighted green issues and stories in the paper and on the website and have a Greenlife page every week, sponsored by New College Stamford our Green Business of the Year winner for 2008.