Watford will have 64 new electric vehicle (EV) charging points thanks to a grant of more than £385,000.

Watford Borough Council confirmed the funding totalling £386,250, sourced from the On-Street Residential Charge Point Scheme (ORCS), to install 24 twin charge points and 40 lamp column charge points.

The new additions will bring the number of on-street locations to 115 in Watford.

Councillor Ian Stotesbury, portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, said: "This grant marks another significant leap forward in our ambition to provide more choices to residents and to help reduce emissions in Watford.

"With the support of this funding, we're enhancing our town's charging infrastructure, making electric vehicle ownership more accessible and convenient for our residents and visitors."

The planned charge points are part of the council's 'Transforming Travel in Watford 2021-2041' strategy.

The scheme aims to change local travel habits, promoting sustainable options such as walking, cycling, and public transport.

The latest grant further builds on the success of £592,500 funding awarded last year by ORCS, which was used to install 79 new EV charging points in Watford.

Watford Borough Council leads these installation programmes with support from the government's Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and the Energy Saving Trust.

The grant breaks down as 50 per cent funding from OZEV, with the remaining installation cost covered by the council's contract with Blink Charging.

The total investment is £772,500.

Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: "The expansion of EV charging points will help people to switch to EV vehicles and improve air quality in Watford.

"Many residents in the town do not have driveways, so it is important that we have the right infrastructure in place.

"We are committed to making improvements in Watford to make this a more sustainable town."

Earlier this year, the council rolled out a scheme in partnership with Enterprise Car Club offering hourly or daily car rental services, and in the process lowering the dependence on privately owned vehicles.

The initiate involved the deployment of electric vehicles at various locations across Watford.

Further information about the council's sustainable initiatives can be found at watford.gov.uk/sustainablewatford.