A Gloucestershire school girl has won a national competition after cutting carbon emissions for her family.

Lotte Cleevely, 9, was awarded with her prize, for going 'ultra low' in carbon emissions, by TV adventurer Ben Fogle and the minister for transport George Freeman MP.

With the help of her dad, Matt, who happens to run electric vehicle specialists Cleevely Motors, Lotte accumulated 208 zero emission miles during the contest period.

Mr Fogle, a 'Go Ultra Low' ambassador encouraging people to cut their carbon emissions, presented Lotte with her prize of tickets for the ABB Formula E-Prix in London - a contest for electric powered racing cars.

"The 208 miles we did in an electric vehicle was done going to work as it was the school holiday," said Lotte.

"I am looking forward to seeing the formula electric racing later in the year."

Mr Fogle said: "The future of our plant is down to education.

"Most of us adults have long since past our days of being educated. We are fearful of education but if we value this planet we have to make changes.

"There is a great fear over electric cars but instead of going for a branded model we need to find a vehicle that suits our individual needs."

The television presenter admits he has one of the biggest carbon footprints around as he jets around the world for work.

He added: "I make up for it in different ways. I walk where I can and use an electric vehicle whenever possible.

"We have still got to live, but we need to find alternative ways in doing what is essential."

Mr Freeman added: "De-carbonising our transport system and economy is one of those challenges where the children are ahead of the adults.

"This school project and the winners here today brilliantly demonstrate how quickly and naturally families led by their children are willing to embrace greener and healthier travel to school and work."

Pupils taking part in the Go Ultra Low contest accumulated a total of 5,717 "zero emission miles" over the course of a week - more miles than it takes to get from the UK to Japan.

This amounted to more than 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved - equivalent to boiling over 600,000 kettles.

The contest was open to children between the ages of seven and 11. They were challenged to clock up "zero emission miles" by walking, cycling, using public transport, or travelling in an electric vehicle.

Poppy Welch,Head of Go Ultra Low, said: "As we've already seen over the past 12 months, the number of EVs on our roads is continuing to accelerate, with one registered every seven minutes in 2019.

"Electric cost as little as 1p per mile to run, can help improve local air quality, and are great fun to drive, so it's no wonder people in the UK people are making more and more sustainable transport choices."

Mr Cleevely, explained that the 208 miles across a week was just through doing normal family activities.

The family have two fully-electric cars and Cheltenham-based Cleevely Electric Motors is dedicated to offering families, businesses and fleets a chance to go electric.

"The week we measured it we ensured it was just a normal week of going around town, to the shops and so-on," he said.

"It shows how effective an electric vehicle can be and I am sure that they will become more of the norm in the years to come."

Mr Cleevely is especially pleased that his daughter has scooped the prize as the Formula E-Prix coincides with something of a landmark.

"It's my 40th birthday that weekend, so we're going to go to London and have a real celebration of it, all thanks to Lotte winning the prize."