The eCollect, produced by Dennis Eagle, is an all-electric refuse collection vehicle and can take 20 tonnes of waste on board during an eight-hour shift before it needs recharging.

Dr Allison Wren, the council's Lead Councillor for Waste and Recycling, said: 'As a council, we have recognised the climate emergency and are taking numerous actions to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and increase the amount of waste that we recycle.

'Using electric vehicles wherever possible is one of the ways to reach our target and It was very useful for me to see this vehicle in operation.'

The council could look towards an all all-electric fleet of waste and recycling collection vehicles if the trial proves successful.

It has previously trialled an all-electric street washer and is to trial an electric barrow bike that can be used to empty litter bins.