Sales of hybrid cars soar as diesels plunge by nearly a quarter

Drivers continue to shun diesel in the face of environmental and tax concerns

Sales of plug-in hybrid cars soared by nearly three-quarters year on year in May, dramatically outstripping the 3.4% overall growth in new car registrations.

Nearly 4,000 plug-in hybrids, which typically run for about 50 miles on a battery before a combustion engine kicks in, were bought last month, up from 2,301 in May 2017.