A small army of street cleaners using cutting-edge machinery has been drafted in to sweep a handful of streets in the election run-up, sparking accusations the council is indulging in dirty politics.

The ironic suggestion comes after it emerged a 16-week trial of new cleaning equipment using 24 temporary staff and hired machinery would end within a month of the election at a cost of £325,000.

With the decision made by the authority’s officers, independent of the council’s cabinet, its incumbent leader Councillor David Williams has dismissed the accusations as “trivial electioneering”.

Only one of the five wards chosen to trial the scheme stands to change hands in today’s poll, but Merton’s opposition Labour leader is still furious a decision should be made with an election looming.

Councillor Andrew Judge said: “It’s good for the council to be committing money to the street scene but it’s highly unusual this should be a temporary expenditure over the period of an election – the facts speak for themselves and residents can make up their own minds on this.”

The pilot scheme is a reaction to last year’s residents survey, led by the council and highlighting the level of street cleaning in certain parts of the borough as a key concern.

Coun Williams said: “Quite simply we had made financial provision for the purchase of new cleaning equipment that needs to be brought into service as soon as possible, that’s why council officers have undertaken this pilot.

“You could say you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t but this is a case of the council getting on with its job.”