Drivers in West Cumbria can go green thanks to new charging points for electric vehicles.

They have been installed outside Allerdale House in Workington and Central car park in Keswick.

They are among nine sites across the county to be given the machines thanks to £438,000 secured by Cumbria County Council.

Three quarters of the money came from the Government's Office of Low Emission Vehicles.

The rest came from a private investor.

APT Controls Group has supplied and installed the charging points and secured the private investment. 

The charging service will be provided by ChargePoint Genie.

Most electric vehicles can be charged at the sites in 30 minutes.

Fast chargers, for longer top ups, are also available.

Allerdale council has provided the two sites in the borough.

Councillor Janet Willis, Cumbria County Council cabinet member responsible for environment, said: "I'd like to thank our district council partners who played a key role in providing locations within their car parks for the chargers, ensuring they’re easily accessible to the public.

"This has been a complex project and it’s taken a while to get everything in place but it’s been well worth the wait.

"Up until now there have been limited charging facilities in Cumbria.

"I'm sure this project will help open up the county to more electric vehicle drivers and make a real difference, both in Cumbria and nationally."

The other charging points are at Senhouse Street car park in Whitehaven, Lowther Street, Carlisle, the County Hall in Kendal, Low Fold car park, Ambleside, Brewery Street car park, Ulverston, Christian Head car park, Kirkby Stephen, and New Road car park, Kirkby Lonsdale.

Regular users are advised to register on the ChargePoint Genie website.

There is a one-off fee of £20 for registration and registered users will receive an card to access electric vehicle chargers.

ChargePoint Genie has set the tariff for registered users at 30p per KWH.

The charging points can also be used on a pay-as-you-go basis by mobile phone app.