A CAR sharing club is to expand after receiving a six-figure funding boost.

Twenty cars will be added to the Co-wheels fleet over the next year, after the North East Combined Authority (Neca), Co-wheels and transport body Nexus was successful in a bid to Carplus, which oversees car clubs across the country.

The car booking service, which has 600 North-East members, will be expanded in County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle and Northumberland and launched in Sunderland and North Tyneside.

Members can book cars from £3.75 per hour or £22.50 for 24 hours.

The £260,000 funding will also be used to explore integrating Co-wheels with the Pop smart travel ticket.

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes, Neca’s lead member for transport, said: “We’re delighted to have secured this £260,000 funding, which will bring benefits for residents and help us to develop convenient, low cost and low carbon transport options.

“It will make a significant contribution to more sustainable travel in the area and keep us on track to becoming greener.”

Co-wheels managing director Paul Balmont said: “We are excited to be working with Neca and Nexus to expand and bring the service to many more residents and businesses.

“The North-East has always been a priority are for us and the demand for cost effective, convenient and low carbon transport options is increasingly daily.”

For more information, visit co-wheels.org.uk/northeast