The number of electric vehicle (EV) chargers in North East England is set to more than double following Connected Kerb's partnership with South Tyneside Council.

Up to 2,100 new charge points will be installed over the next 20 years, marking the largest installation of public EV charge points in the North of England.

Work will begin this month.

The North East hosts just 2.7 per cent of the UK’s public charging infrastructure although it is home to almost four per cent of the UK’s population, equating to 58 chargers per 100,000 people.

Chris Pateman-Jones, chief executive officer of Connected Kerb, said: “With millions of pounds available to local authorities from Government initiatives such as the LEVI Fund, councils are in the driving seat to take decisive, meaningful action to deploy charge points where their communities need them the most.

Hexham Courant: The North East hosts just 2.7 per cent of the UK’s public charging infrastructure although it is

"Our partnership with South Tyneside Council is yet another example of bold ambition turned into action."

The collaboration will result in 80 per cent of the chargers being operational within the next two years alone.

The move supports South Tyneside Council's goal to reduce carbon emissions and become carbon neutral by 2030.

Cllr Ernest Gibson, lead member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change at South Tyneside Council, said: “The entire country is undergoing a massive shift in ways in which we travel, and we are committed to ensuring that South Tyneside plays its part.

"With the first chargers expected to be in the ground by the end of March, we are committed to giving more residents the confidence they need to make the switch to electric, whilst supporting our sustainability agenda."