TENDRING Council has installed its first electric vehicle charging point in the High Street car park in Clacton.

Owners of electric vehicles will be able to use the service free of charge if they have paid for a parking space or have a householder’s permit during the designated times, which is anticipated to make the scheme cost neutral.

It is hoped the new charging point will prove popular and be the first of many throughout the district, providing an incentive for electric vehicle drivers to visit Tendring.

The rapid charging point should fully charge most vehicles from a flat battery in about three hours.

Council spokesman Nick Turner said: “I hope that this charging point will be the first of many across all our car parks in the Tendring district and that visitors to the district will make the most of local facilities while their vehicles are recharging.”