The Ministry of Defence has announced it will have a prototype of an electric combat vehicle within three years, as part of an eco-friendly drive which will pave the way for "green" tanks.

It comes as the head of the army, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, said on Thursday that the current fleet of military vehicles could be the last generation to rely on fossil fuels and that being more environmentally friendly could help the army to attract recruits.

The new £3.2m project, led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), will explore the latest vehicle technologies to boost the performance of future combat vehicles for the armed forces.

A key focus will be electric drive systems for future tanks and robotic vehicles.

William Suttie, one of the scientists heading up the research said: “Electric drive systems have the potential to substantially increase fuel efficiency in our combat vehicles, reducing the Army’s carbon footprint.