Oxford City Council leader Bob Price today welcomed a trial of 40 electric-powered Mini cars in the county, part of a nationwide trial of green forms of transport.

The Mini E research consortium, a partnership of BMW Mini in Cowley, Oxford Brookes University and Scottish and Southern Energy, is sharing £25m of funding with seven other green transport schemes.

Drivers will start trials of Mini Es on Oxfordshire’s roads in the autumn.

Mr Price said: “We're very pleased with this news and will be supporting the Mini E trial as part of our exceptional commitment to combating climate change and carbon emissions.”