Further electric charging points are being installed in North Yorkshire as latest figures show almost 4,000 electric vehicles have been registered across the county.

North Yorkshire Council announced with partners Zest two chargers each are being installed in Cleveland Way car park Helmsley, Water Lane car park Malton and Eastgate car park, Pickering.

It will bring to 225 public charging points. Council officers forcast 3,161 charge points will be needed by 2030, half they say will need to be funded by the public sector at an estimated cost of £10.3m.

The authority secured £3.2m from the national Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure for North Yorkshire towards the cost which will pay for 150 charge points. Seventy will be linked to renewable energy systems designed to offset some or all of the energy needed to power the units.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Keane Duncan, said: "We’re delighted to partner with Zest and for them to deliver these rapid chargers in Helmsley, Malton, and Pickering on our behalf.

"As the electric vehicle market continues to rise, the demand for charging points will also grow and it’s important that we are prepared for that.

“By making more available across the county, we are making it easier for people to charge their electric vehicles and also ensure we remain a destination of choice for visitors with these vehicles."

The six charging points will charge a vehicle to approximately 80 per cent in less than an hour, enabling motorists to continue to go about their day after visiting one of the market towns.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for climate change, Cllr Greg White, said: "Like all local authorities, we recognise the impact of climate change and remain committed to playing our part to help tackle this global issue.

"We know we can’t do this alone, and by working together with partners such as Zest to provide a comprehensive network of electric vehicle charging, we are a step closer to achieving our targets for reducing carbon emissions and protecting our environment."

North Yorkshire Council has adopted a new county-wide strategy to make electric vehicle charging available to all, they're hoping an enhanced network of charging points will support the uptake of electric vehicles over the next 10 years and help to tackle climate change.

The chief executive officer of Zest, Robin Heap, said: "These high-quality chargers inject vitality to rural towns, making it easier to switch to electric vehicles, attract new visitors and encourage businesses to invest. North Yorkshire Council is backing its ambitious strategy with bold action, and we are proud they chose to work with Zest."