Northumberland has a higher amount of electric vehicle charging points compared to the UK average, according to figures from the Department for Transport.

There were 149 public charging points in Northumberland at the start of January, their figures show.

That is a rate of 46 per 100,000 people, compared to the UK average of 31.

Transport minister Grant Shapps has announced an extra £20million is to be made available to local authorities to increase the number of charging points.

He said: “With a world-leading charging network, we’re making it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles, creating healthier neighbourhoods and cleaning up our air as we build back greener.”

However, a report by the Policy Exchange had said the speed of the rollout needs to be faster than the current rate to meet the planned ban on new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson brought forward the ban on petrol car sales from 2040 to 2030 as part of a “green industrial revolution” to tackle climate change.

There were 1,108 electric vehicles licensed to addresses in Northumberland at the end of September, according to the latest DfT data. This is up by 40 per cent from 791 in September 2019.

Coun. Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “Northumberland County Council has been maximising the number of electric vehicle charging points across its county to encourage electric vehicle uptake for many years.

“This is work we are continuing to undertake and plan to expand alongside growing demands for electric charging infrastructure."