As motorists across the country boycotted petrol stations during yesterday's Dump the Pump protests, Gerry Woolf was showing people what he believes is the way forward.

Gerry claims electric cars are the way forward for town centre travel and they received the seal of approval from Brighton's two Labour MPs during a special demonstration in Rottingdean.

Technology journalist Gerry, who lives in Westmeston Avenue, Rottingdean, does not have to go to the nearest garage to fill up for petrol.

All he does is plug in his car to a 13 amp point outside his bungalow.

It is the first private electric vehicle charging point in Brighton. He demonstrated the point and the car, along with other vehicles and power assisted modes of transport, on Dump the Pump Day.

Gerry is the secretary of the Electric Vehicle Association of Great Britain.

Gerry showed the two Brighton MPs David Lepper and Des Turner, as well as John Ballance, chairman of Brighton and Hove Council's environmental services committee, the beauty of going electric.

Gerry and his wife, Suzanne, have installed a 13 amp power point close where their Peugeot is parked at night and now enjoy fuel mileage costs of 2p a mile, compared with 7p a mile for petrol cars.

"If we really want to clean up the air in our towns and cities and cut greenhouse gases, we should encourage the use of electric vehicles," he said. "This way we could dump the pump forever."

Non-driver Mr Lepper was impressed by the quietness of the vehicles Gerry had on show at his home.

The MP also had a go on a power-assisted bike, which he believes is ideal for his hilly constituency.