Sales of hybrid cars in the UK have doubled in the last 12 months – making cleaner cars the fastest growing sector in the industry.

Year to date results for the hybrid market show an increase in sales from 3,117 to 6,568 cars (111%).

Honda’s hybrid sales reflected the sector’s growth spurt. It sold 604 hybrids in May, its highest number ever. This brings the total number of Civic Hybrid saloons sold to 1,136 year-to-date.

Honda said its successful month was helped by the corporate market, with an increasing number of public and private companies recognising the benefits of running hybrid cars.

City Car Club, a ‘pay as you go’ car sharing scheme based in Camden, ordered 45 of the petrol-electric Hondas for its clients to use.

“People who join car clubs such as ours, do so because of their lifestyle – and these people are likely to be more environmentally responsible,” says Dirk van Dijl, chief executive of City Car Club.

TV presenter, Vicky Butler Henderson, will be driving a Civic Hybrid from London to Brighton in the Revolve Eco rally on June 5 to help promote alternative motoring technology to the UK public.