A POLL asking people to choose between a heroin addict and a violent alcoholic is proving successful at keeping Edinburgh's streets clean.. at the expense of Ewan McGregor's ego.

Capital residents have been voting with their cigarette butts on, among other Irvine Welsh-themed questions, their favourite Trainspotting character using 'ballot bins' in the city's Grassmarket area.

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And, as highlighted by Scots star McGregor on social media this morning, it looks like his portrayal of cynical junkie Renton is being edged out by Robert Carlyle's psychotic Franco Begbie.

Ewan posted a photograph of the ballot bin in question on Instagram showing it to be roughly neck-and-neck, along with the caption "I might be getting slightly pipped here by Franco". 

It has so far garnered more than 11,500 'likes'. 

The novel approach to litter collection is part of the Neat Streets campaign, a project that has been using various innovative methods to urge the public to take pride in their surroundings.

READ MORE: Trainspotting 2 star Robert Carlyle backs Benny Lynch statue campaign

Other initiatives include installing the first ever concertina ashtray in the UK.

Meanwhile Trainspotting 2 is due for UK release in January next year after finishing 57 days of filming last month.