More than one hundred charging points for electric vehicles (EV) are set to be built across County Durham after the government granted millions to council scheme.

Durham County Council are set to install 150 EV charging points across the region after securing £3.1 million in funding from the government.

This comes as part of government efforts to expand the country's charging infrastructure.

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

Speaking on the investment, 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.”

The council had received £1.25 million to plan and install an initial 100 charging points, and with the extra money plan to build a total of 250 charging points across the county, including 60 rapid chargers.

Meanwhile, the government has allocated £22 million of funding available for the scheme, a further £17 million of private funding will support the project, with County Durham receiving ten per cent of the funding.

Work is still ongoing installing the first 100 charging points across the county in the summer, with plans to develop the next 150 sites.