A pilot programme has been launched to provide Shropshire Council employees with a more cost-effective, safe and sustainable option for their business travel needs.

The unitary authority has teamed up with Enterprise Car Club to provide five dedicated Ford Fiestas which are now based at Shirehall in Shrewsbury, with more planned for the coming months.

The vehicles are available to council staff 24/7, 365 days a year, and can be booked online by the hour and accessed with a key card or mobile app for quick and easy mobility.

Previously, council employees undertook the majority of work trips in their own cars and then claimed back mileage reimbursement.

The council believes there are more efficient and productive ways of undertaking its business journeys by doing things differently, through utilising the Enterprise Car Club scheme and public transport, and also making better use of the technology available to it.

James Willocks, transport commissioning manager at Shropshire Council, said it would also help to ease the parking problems at Shirehall.

More than 120 council staff from a range of different departments have already signed up for the programme, which lets them use these dedicated cars as well as any of the other 1,500 Enterprise Car Club vehicles located in 25 cities around the UK.