The Corporation of Hamilton is hoping its new 'Green Machines' will help tackle a growing litter problem.

The street-sweeping machines were introduced yesterday and are designed to go over sidewalks while disinfecting them in an effort to make Hamilton a cleaner place.

They are similar to ones used in New York, London, Los Angeles and Paris.

"This is a people-friendly machine," said councillor Reginald Minors, deputy chairman of the Corporation's sanitation committee. "Litter is becoming a problem, not just in the City but all over the Island and we want to keep the City as clean as possible. Our new 'Green Machines' should be a big help in doing so.''

The machines are capable of crushing tin cans and bottles into a fine sand which is bagged and left on the sidewalk for pick up later. The low pollution, low noise machines can spray disinfectant and the eight-foot-long 'Woosh wonder hose' brings hard-to-reach objects into range.

The 'clean and safe' attachment is used for greasy food and dog droppings.

A voice command will even say "excuse me-cleaning in progress" and "caution-sweeper approaching" and can have a person's voice recorded into the machine to programme new warnings.