A further 150 electric vehicle charging points to be installed across County Durham

The authority is one of only three councils to receive additional funding to expand on an innovative pilot scheme, which it first took part in last year.

Having received £1.25 million to plan and install an initial 100 charging points, the extra money will now take the total number of charging points in the county to 250, including 60 rapid chargers.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “It is fantastic to see our innovative pilot scheme being recognised nationally. The additional funding, which will create a further 150 charging points across County Durham, will help to improve access to electric vehicles and charging points.

“We are committed to making sure as many residents as possible can access electric charging and make more sustainable transport choices. This is part of our wider plan to reduce carbon emissions and make the county one of the greenest places to live, work and visit in the UK.”

In total, the government has made £22 million of funding available for the scheme and a further £17 million of private funding will support the project, with County Durham receiving around 10 per cent of the pilot funding in total.

Work is ongoing to install the first of the 100 charging points across the county from this summer, with plans also in place to develop the next 150 sites.