Electric vehicle charging points will be installed in towns and villages across Norfolk after the county was handed millions of pounds for the technology.

Officers at Norfolk County Council will now work with their counterparts in district councils to decide where the chargers should go.

But rural areas, where private companies might be reluctant to install the technology, are likely to be the main beneficiaries from the £7.1m boost, which comes from the government's Local Electric Vehicle (LEVI) fund.

Watton & Swaffham Times: More electric car charging points will be installed in NorfolkMore electric car charging points will be installed in Norfolk

The majority of the charging points will produce less than 22kW, meaning they are most likely to be installed in residential streets, so people can use them to power up their vehicles overnight.

But council bosses said some of them could be more powerful, rapid chargers and some could be specifically for taxis.

Watton & Swaffham Times: Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transportGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport said: "Reducing carbon emissions is at the forefront of Norfolk County Council’s plans and we recognise the important role that electric vehicles play in this.

"Confirmation of this money from the DfT comes at a great time for us as we finish rolling out on-street charge points across Norwich and now start to focus on rolling out a similar project across all other districts in Norfolk.

READ MORE: More electric buses on way to Norwich

"We’ll use this money to get charging infrastructure into areas that are less commercially viable, such as our more rural locations that wouldn’t otherwise be picked up by charge point operators – ensuring we make our whole county fit for the future."

The council, which has been installing charging points on dozens of Norwich streets, said when proposals are drawn up, they will be shared with the public and consulted on if necessary.

The boost comes just days after council leaders revealed they could be prepared to make land the authority owns available to private companies to install chargers.

Watton & Swaffham Times: Eric Vardy, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for environment and wasteEric Vardy, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for environment and waste (Image: Supplied by the Conservatives)

Eric Vardy, the Conservative-controlled council's cabinet member for environment and waste, said that "electric vehicle journey anxiety" - where drivers worry they will not be able to charge up their vehicles - was a genuine concern for many in such a rural county.