The trial of the new machine is part of the council’s drive to reduce carbon emissions, improve long-term efficiency and make its services as environmentally friendly as possible.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, executive member for environment and transport, saw the new machine in action at the start of its trial, which will assess whether it could be rolled out more widely and replace the petrol-powered fleet currently cleaning Islington’s streets every day.

Cllr Webbe said: “Keeping our borough clean and tidy is a big priority – and one that we all have a role in.

“We are keen to keep pushing and seeing how technological advances, like these all-electric sweepers, might help us improve our services and reduce emissions to stay one step ahead.”

The fully-electric machines are quieter and faster than traditional road sweepers, have significantly lower running costs and use water spray to reduce the dust kicked up by sweeping.

The vehicle is one of several new technological innovations being trialled or rolled out this month by Islington Council. They go hand-in-hand with a month-long blitz and spritz across the borough – a huge spring cleaning operation led by the council with help from local businesses, schools, colleges and the wider community.

It was kick-started earlier this month by Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘The Great British Spring Clean’ weekend campaign, but Islington is extending its spring clean throughout March and will improve local streets, neighbourhoods, and parks.

The council’s ongoing efforts to clean up the borough also include a clampdown on fly-tippers and new ways of driving up recycling rates.

This month all the borough’s town centres will be deep-cleaned with specialist teams jet-washing pavements, removing graffiti and chewing gum, washing commercial bins, litter-picking, filling potholes in the road, clamping down on fly-tipping, dog fouling and drivers who leave their engines idling.

Visits will also be made to businesses by environmental health and trading standards teams. Meanwhile, Friends of Parks groups and other volunteers will also help get the borough’s green spaces ready to welcome the warmer weather ahead.

In advance of each localised clean-up, postcards and posters are being distributed in each town centre.

To find out more and get involved, see http://islingtonlife.london/cleanup.