Miss Townsend's Renault ZOE is Europe’s best-selling electric car and comes with five-doors, a four-year warranty and free roadside assistance.

The super-mini also includes state-of-the art climate control and a seven-inch touch screen entertainment system - perfect for keeping her children amused on long drives.

The mother-of-two from Stretton, Rutland, who collected the vehicle yesterday from the Renault dealers Smiths in Peterborough, said: "I was so exited to hear I'd won.

"We were considering buying a smaller second car to do local journeys in, and that's why I entered the competition in the first place. 

"Winning the car is amazing. 

"I've had a test drive and love it. 

"It's so nippy and comfortable."

Miss Townsend, 32, who like her partner James Tatlow, 40, works for John Deere agricultural machinery manufacturers, will be using the ZOE instead of her current larger and more expensive diesel car. 

One son Zander, five, is in school and the other Oscar, two is in nursery and she has to drive to both places so the ZOE is ideal.

The £28,000 vehicle, availabe at a discounted £23,000 thanks to a Government green grant, is capable of 186 miles of driving in the summer and 124 miles in cold winter conditions. 

This means the Zoe is suitable for longer journeys as well as running about town.

She will be able to set the temperature of the car before even opening the door from your smartphone or just by pointing the key at the car from inside her house. 

And drivers can monitor the battery from  a smartphone, tablet or desktop.

The prize also comes with the installation of a charging point on her driveway so she can charge the Renault Zoe conveniently and quickly.

Daniel Green, chief executive of TotalEV, who sponsored the prize-winning car, said: "There's no doubt at all that electric cars are the future.  

"Just at this one dealership in Peterborough, sales have soared from £112,000 to just over £1m in a few months.

"In a couple of years time, drivers of electric cars will even be able to sell electricity back to the national grid in a new initiative, so Laura will also be able to cut her electricity bill."

The latest UK-made rapid chargers  can charge a Renault Zoe battery to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes and Miss Townsend can enjoy a London trip taking her sons to see the London lights without paying the congestion charge. 

Visit TotalEV to read all the news about electric cars.