We present the EROS nearby supernova ($z sim 0.02 - 0.2$) search and the analysis of the first year of data (1997). A total of 80 square degrees were surveyed. Eight supernov{ae} were detected, four of which were spectroscopically identified as type Ia supernov{ae}. The search efficiency was determined with a Monte-Carlo simulation taking into account the efficiencies for both supernova detection and host galaxy identification. Assuming that for a given galaxy the supernova rate is proportional to the galactic luminosity, we compute a type Ia supernova explosion rate of: ${cal R} = 0.44 {}_{-0.21}^{+0.35} {}_{-0.07}^{+0.13} h^2: / 10^{10} lbsun / 100 {rm yrs}$ at an average redshift of $sim 0.1$ where the errors are respectively statistical and systematic (type misidentification included).
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