The deal will run for 10 years and is split into three areas. Traditional print will be operated on the council's own off-site plant, fast turnaround printing and copying will be done at the city hall and high volume variable print will be handled at Pitney Bowes' Hemel Hempstead facility.

"We see the public sector as a growth opportunity," said Pitney Bowes Management Services managing director Ashley Bailey. "It represents around 15-20% of our revenue stream."

"With Pitney Bowes we can bring new investment and sustainable improvement to our print and reprographics services," added Luton Borough Council corporate director for corporate and customer services, Peter Watson.