Nearly 20 per cent of all new cars sold in Oxfordshire are electric, new data shows.

Almost one in five of all new cars - or 19.6 per cent - is fully electric, giving the county the highest EV uptake in the UK, it found.

The data comes from New AutoMotive, an independent transport group that works with Government and local authorities to support the switch to electric.

The group releases electric vehicle data on a monthly basis.

Ben Nelmes, Head of Policy at New AutoMotive, said: “It is fantastic to see Oxfordshire leading the way in embracing electric cars. As many people across the county have discovered, EVs are cheap to run, fun to drive and they're good for the environment.

"This is the results of years of leadership from local government in Oxfordshire. It is 10 years since Oxfordshire County Council started installing EV charge points. Oxford City Council now offers grants for taxi drivers to go electric and are now delivering one of Europe's largest charging hubs.

"This leadership and long-term planning is vital to enabling everyone to access the benefits of EV ownership: saving money, going green, and embracing new technology.”

Oxford’s pilot clean air zone was delayed last month due to technical problems but there are plans to implement it later this year.