FREE electric vehicle charging points are being offered to people in North Yorkshire.

Richmondshire District Council has teamed up with Yorkshire Energy Partnership to offer the points for all residents with off-street parking.

However the Government-funded “Electric Richmondshire” scheme is only available until August 18, on a first- come first-served basis’

Residents do not have to own or even have access to an electric car and installing a charging point is seen as a way of “future-proofing” homes.

The charging points are the size of a shoe box, and fix to an outside wall or garage.

Car charging points normally cost £1,800 to buy and install, but under this scheme they are fully funded by the Government’s Office of Low Emission Vehicles for domestic premises.

Richmondshire’s spokesperson for sustainable development, Cllr Jane Parlour, said: “Electric cars are becoming more popular, so it makes sense to take advantage of this offer.

“It will enable people to consider this greener, cheaper-to-run option when they buy their next car - especially in this area where public transport is never likely to meet everybody’s needs.”

For more information call Yorkshire Energy Partnership on 01904-545020 - by August 18, quoting Electric Richmondshire.