A FLEET of nine new electric cars and vans are helping Bradford Council go green.

Seven Nissan e-NV200 vans will be introduced for staff working on street lighting, parking services, highways and structures as well as the council's postal couriers.

And two new Nissan Leaf electric cars will be used as office staff pool cars, meaning staff can cycle to work or use public transport and still have access to a car if they need one.

The cars and vans will replace older diesel vehicles and will be introduced over the coming weeks.

They will cost £3,546 a year to lease but the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles is meeting three-quarters of this cost.

As well as producing no harmful exhaust emissions, the electric vehicles cost less to run, saving taxpayers' money on both fuel and road tax.

Bradford Council's deputy leader, Councillor Val Slater, said: "There are both long- and short-term benefits from replacing diesel vehicles with electric.

"We are determined to increase our commitment to save money, improve air quality and reduce the council’s carbon footprint by harnessing the latest ultra-low emission technology.

"Air pollution can lead to significant health problems so we should be doing as much as we can to reduce it."