A GIANT vacuum cleaner will be used in the fight to keep the streets in Braintree and Witham clean.

The new eco friendly machine has been purchased by Braintree Council for £26,000 after it was handed a grant from the Government.

The urban electric vacuum is fully electric and produces no CO2 emissions.

It will be used to reinforce the work done by the council’s Green Heart Barrow Beat staff, who are out seven days a week litter-picking and sweeping the streets.

The council’s environment and place boss Wendy Schmitt said: “I’m pleased we have been able to invest in all this new equipment as it means we can continue to support our partners and volunteers and the hard work they do in their local communities to help keep our district clean and tidy.

“We know clean streets are important to residents and as a council, we work hard and take pride in the keeping the district clean and tidy.”

A recent satisfaction survey showed 77 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the cleanliness of the district.

The council has also replenished its stock of litter and dog waste bins, as well as litter-picks, high visibility vests and gloves to lend to members of the community.