Used car sales are up this year, boosted by a big increase in the number of second-hand electric vehicles on the market.

Sales of second-hand cars in the UK increased by 5.1 per cent between January and March, compared to the same three months last year.

The market for electric cars, which currently only makes up a small percentage of the second-hand market, has more than doubled in size.

The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed the most popular models overall were the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and VW Golf.

But used zero emission vehicles are starting to filter through into the second-hard market and consumers are increasingly keen to snap up more environmentally-friendly cars.

Transactions for electric cars more than doubled from 6,625 to 14,586. Plug in hybrids and hybrids also changed hands in greater numbers than the year before - rising by 35.3 per cent to 14,433, and 28.8 per cent to 35,007 sales respectively.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: "With the new car market hampered by ongoing global supply shortages, growth in the used car market is welcome.

"Electric car sales are energising the market, with zero emission vehicles starting to filter through in larger numbers to consumers looking forward to driving the latest and greenest vehicles. Although there is some way to go before we see the recent growth in new EVs replicated in the used market, a buoyant new car market will be vital to help drive fleet renewal which is essential to the delivery of carbon savings."