Cash-strapped commuters turning to car-sharing schemes

The UK has seen a surge of interest in "ride-sharing" websites as hard-up motorists look for ways to drive down the cost of the daily commute.

Websites such as BlaBlaCar.com, Carpooling.com and Liftshare.com connect drivers looking to "rent" a spare seat with passengers looking for ways to avoid astronomical train fares, soaring fuel prices and overly congested roads.