Cycling City York funding has been used to buy a new, ride-on sweeper to help City of York Council’s communities and neighbourhoods team maintain the area’s 55 miles of off-road cycle routes and paths.

The Euromec Powerflex 2200T can carry out many outdoor tasks, including maintaining the edges of off-road routes and clearing snow.

Graham Titchener, programme manager for Cycling City York, said: “This piece of equipment will play an important role in helping the council to maintain the city’s cycle paths both during the summer, when they need to cut back the verges, remove weeds and clear glass, thorns and other debris, and in winter, to help when snow and ice is a problem.”

Bill Manby, operation manager, said the machine had a particle filter and catalytic converter to reduce harmful exhaust emissions.

“It runs on biological fuel and operates quietly to lower noise pollution, so it’s an environmentally friendly choice too,” he said.