Hundreds of new electric vehicle charging points are set to be installed across Lancashire following a £600,000 investment in the technology.

The new charging points will help towards improving EV infrastructure in the county and the country as a whole, creating a comprehensive and reliable network of charging points.

The funding is part of a £56 million plan to install up to 2,400 new EV chargers across the country, with tens of thousands planned in the coming years.

The money is being shared out between 16 councils – including Lancashire – and three pilot projects in the UK.

Lancashire County Council will use the money to trial solutions for people who do not have access to off-street parking, including charging points integrated into street lights and pavement cable channels to allow home charging with cables hidden away.

This could be vital in moving many of the county’s towns and villages into the next generation of motoring, with so many properties in the county being terraced homes with no driveways or garages.

The results of this trial will help shape Lancashire’s long term plans for EV charging.

Where the trials will take place are yet to be confirmed, but the county council will work with borough councils to identify the best locations for it to run.

Lancashire already has 150 charging points and this will help to increase the network for EV drivers.

County Cllr Shaun Turner, member for environment and climate change, said: "We welcome the announcement of vital funding for the provision of electric vehicle charge points in Lancashire.

"This new funding will help provide more options and solutions to help increase the uptake of electric vehicles, reduce emissions and improve air quality and help us to maintain our wholehearted commitment to reducing carbon emissions across Lancashire through adopting creative solutions and new technology.

"This will enable us to look at practical solutions for the roll out of electric vehicle charging points across Lancashire, and I look forward to building on this in future as the transition to EVs continues.

"Climate change presents a huge challenge, and this forms part of our overall strategy to tackle this important issue and play our part in decarbonising the economy."