TESTING of driverless cars will be allowed on roads as the Government aims make Britain a leader in developing new technologies. 

Chancellor Philip Hammond will announce changes to regulations to allow on-road testing in Wednesday's budget to help ensure autonomous cars are in use on British roads by 2021.

A package of investment, including £400 million for electric car charge points and £100m to help people with the cost of buying electric cars, is also expected to be included. 

Oxfordshire is seen as one of the areas pioneering the development of future transport technologies. 

Last month it was announced that the Culham business Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE), based in the science centre, will receive £6.9m from the Department of Transport to set up driverless car test areas.

Mimicking realistic city driving environments, these areas will allow automated vehicles to be tested before being taken onto public roads.

Oxford City Council with support from Oxfordshire County Council has also begun a programme to install about 100 electric vehicle charging stations in Oxford’s residential streets to help people go electric.

It is thought that the trial is the first on-street charging pilot of its size in the world.