A FISHING lakes and caravan park centre has moved to encourage the growing number of electric vehicle drivers to visit Herriot country.

The owners of The Oaks Lakes, in Sessay, near Thirsk, said they had installed a free charger from Zero Carbon World after becoming aware the area had become known for its dearth of facilities for electric cars.

Manager Sarah Kay said she was aware of some electric cars running out of charge near the site, which is close to the A19, and the charging point would enable thousands of electric car users to use previously inaccessible routes.

In October, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported a 56 per cent rise in the number of alternatively-fuelled cars being registered over the previous year.

Mrs Kay said: "We are pleased to be helping the tourists who use electrical vehicles to explore North Yorkshire without the worry of finding a charge point or not to visit the area due to the lack of chargers.

"At present our area is known all over Western Europe as the Yorkshire Gap and from the map below pinpointing the chargers, you can see why.

"We hope other hotels and leisure businesses apply for the government grants and free chargers available so Yorkshire can be at the forefront of the UK’s electric vehicle infrastructure."