CHARGING points for electric cars have been installed in car parks across west Dorset and Weymouth.

The four Rapid Electric vehicle charging points were put in as part of a county wide project to encourage more people to consider switching to electric.

The Dorset initiative is being led by Poole Borough Council and has now seen new charging points installed in the west of the county.

The four charging unites are located at the Harbourside car park in Weymouth, Trinity Street in Dorchester, East Street car park in Bridport and Charmouth Road in Lyme Regis.

Rapid chargers have the capability to charge all electric vehicles, however, if your vehicle has rapid charge capability, the battery can be charged to 80 per cent of capacity within 20 to 30 minutes.

There will be a fee to use the rapid chargers with pay-as-you-go prices starting at £4 for the first 60 minutes. The usual cost will be £6.

Chargers use innovative technology built into the equipment that detects when a vehicle is parked in the charging parking slot.

Civil enforcement officers will be alerted if a vehicle parks in the space without being connected to the charging unit.

The new units have come at zero cost to West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council as the funding has been provided through a government grant.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's briefholder for transport and infrastructure Cllr Ray Nowak said the new charging points would benefit both residents and visitors who use electric vehicles.

He said: "It’s great that the borough can utilise this government grant and support residents and visiting electric vehicle owners."

Leader of West Dorset District Council Cllr Anthony Alford added that he hoped the additional charging points would encourage more people to think about buying an electric vehicle.

He said: "The installation of these electric car chargers is a positive move that makes the purchase of an electric vehicle a much more attractive prospect."

For more information about electric car charging points visit chargeyourcar.org.uk