Could your go petrol free? Bristol health workers can

A team of community health workers have managed to go petrol free in their attempts to be more environmentally friendly.

The Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership staff based in Speedwell and St Werburgh's have been walking, cycling and using electric bikes when they go out to see their patients.

And they have now received a new electric car to reach people further away as part of their green commitment.

The Bristol Vocational Services team, who help people with mental health problems to get back to work, are believed to be the first in Bristol to stop using petrol to get around the city.

They travel between eight and 25 miles a day, making about four or five visits to clients.

Sarah Fairham, Bristol Vocational Services manager, said: "The addition of the electric car means that on those occasions we do need a car, we can still maintain our petrol-free status. I am delighted that we can now say we are a no-petrol team. Leaving our cars behind has many benefits – avoiding Bristol's traffic jams, getting to our clients much faster and feeling much healthier, physically and mentally from walking and cycling.

It costs 1p a mile to run the electric bikes and cars, so also saves the team money on their travel budgets.