Electric vehicle drivers have welcomed the installation of 18 charging points in a town.

The chargers have been installed across three car parks in Eastbourne.

Eastbourne Borough Council has signed a 15-year agreement with Connected Kerb, an electric vehicle infrastructure contractor, to provide and set up the charging points as well as replace existing broken rapid charging units.  

The charging points, in Hyde Gardens Car Park, Redoubt in Royal Parade and Devonshire Park in College Road, are the first of many charging points which will be installed, the council said.

Councillor Jim Murray, Eastbourne’s cabinet member for climate change, said: "I am delighted that these points are in use, providing drivers with more public places to charge their electric vehicles in Eastbourne.

"With electric vehicles helping to decarbonise local transport and improve air quality, this is an important step towards our carbon net zero goal." 

Installation work has been taking place over the summer.

Chris Pateman-Jones, chief executive of Connected Kerb, said: "Supporting Eastbourne residents with no access to off-street parking by providing reliable charging infrastructure will not only encourage greater uptake of electric vehicles but also help improve the town's air quality.”