Swindon is in the top 10 towns and cities in the UK for electric car use.

Research by insurance comparison site comparethemarket.com says that of the 294,800 vehicles registered in Swindon and of those 5,227 are electric.

While the proportion of electric vehicles is only 1.77 per cent, that’s enough to put Swindon in ninth position across the whole country and in third in the south west.

The Forest of Dean with 4.57 per cent – 2,981 vehicles out of a total of 65,170 – has the highest proportion in the region and is second nationally.

Also ahead of Swindon in the south west is the Isles of Scilly – but the low population there means just 18 electric cars out of a total of 950 gives a percentage of 1.89 per cent.

Electric charging points are being installed in shopping centres frequently and Swindon Borough Council’s guide to housing developers says all new-builds should either have a wallbox charging point built in, or be able to have one easily installed.