ENVIRONMENTALLY friendly Postman Pat-style vehicles are the latest addition to the Royal Mail's 36,000-vehicle fleet. The battery-powered Carryall vehicle has been built by Cambridgeshire-based specialist producer John Bradshaw.

Royal Mail has taken delivery of three of the carts, which can be charged overnight, and three more have already been ordered. Royal Mail already operates gas-powered vehicles in Westminster and nine Peugeot Partner Electric vans will be on the streets of Coventry and London later this month.

Mike Horlor, head of the Post Office fleet, said: 'Post workers find it good to drive and very manoeuvrable. It's not only cleaner but its very roomy inside and definitely saves on bending and lifting, so our employees are all enthusiastic.' The vehicles are being tested in Oxford, where the local council has introduced various measures to restrict traffic.

The Carryall comes in a range of vans, flatbeds, pick-up trucks and people-carriers with a choice of battery power or four-stroke Kawasaki engine. The aluminium constructed vehicle can carry loads of up to 680 kilos. Prices start at £4,500. If successful, the carts will become an important part of a nationwide strategy by the Post Office to help preserve the environment.