Nearly 200 electric vehicles funded by the taxpayer have been found unused in car parks where they have been for almost two years – weeks before Glasgow hosts COP26.

Glasgow City Council splashed out on the e-vehicles before the pandemic happened but has said a ban on driving lessons during lockdown meant training was delayed.

The local authority said it plans to create “a fleet of zero emissions vehicles and it could not be guaranteed such favourable terms would remain on offer”.

The discovery, in car parks in the city centre and East End, sparked outrage from opposition parties who questioned why the local authority spent more than £400,000 on leasing mini-vans for binmen to comply with social distancing measures.