A five-year-old boy’s love for bin lorries has inspired the renaming of one of East Cambridgeshire’s Waste and Recycling vehicles.

Young Alex Hodson’s suggestion, 'Loveheart', charmed councillors and won the district's 'Name a Bin Lorry' competition hands down.

His passion for recycling and environmental preservation has been evident since he was two.

His mother, Georgia, praised his proactive approach to litter reduction, which includes frequent litter picking activities in Sutton and encouraging classmates to dispose of garbage correctly.

Meet 'Loveheart', the new bin lorry named by a 5-year-old in East Cambridgeshire Meet 'Loveheart', the new bin lorry named by a 5-year-old in East Cambridgeshire (Image: Submitted)

Georgia said: “He often picks up litter he sees, and places it in the appropriate bin, and encourages his classmates to do the same."

She also revealed her son’s deep fascination with waste management through various eco-friendly activities undertaken with him, which includes visits to their nearby recycling centres.

His submission for the competition was 'Loveheart', expressing his profound affection for bin lorries and recycling.

Thrilled at his son’s achievement, Georgia said: "It would be a dream come true for him to see this become a reality, as parents we are so incredibly proud of his unique interest, and to see the impact he is having on others, and their recycling habits at such a young age.”

The popularity of the competition astounded Cllr Julia Huffer of East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Reflecting on the winning entry, Ms Huffer said: "The suggested names we have received have been incredibly inventive and many of them have given us a giggle or two.

The five year old is a lover of bin lorries and all things recycling The five year old is a lover of bin lorries and all things recycling (Image: Submitted)

“But when we heard about Alex’s love of bin lorries and his suggestion of the name Loveheart we knew he had to be the overall winner."

Following the decision, Loveheart was brought to meet its namesake.

The newly named lorry belongs to the council’s new fleet fitted with the latest in-cab technology to provide an efficient, cost-effective waste collection service.

The lorries can run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and diesel, making them more environment-friendly.