GORDON BROWN'S desire to have all UK motorists driving electric or hybrid cars by 2020 could be undermined by a shortage of the most popular hybrid models on the market.

The increasing cost of fuel alongside the heavily discounted level of road tax for vehicles such as the Honda Civic Hybrid or Toyota Prius has led to an unprecedented demand that has caught car manufacturers by surprise.

Car dealerships in Scotland are reporting at least one inquiry a day about buying a hybrid car - a type of vehicle that uses electrical power from a battery and a more traditional petrol or diesel engine to lower CO2 emissions and boost fuel efficiency.