Rolls-Royce and easyJet have said they set a new aviation milestone with the world's first ground test of an aero engine running on hydrogen.

The London-based and London Luton Airport-based vehicle manufacturers respectively said the ground test was conducted using an early concept demonstrator that burned green hydrogen generated by wind and tidal power.

It took place at an outdoor test facility at the Ministry of Defence in Boscombe Down, using a converted Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A regional aircraft engine. The hydrogen power was sourced from a hydrogen production and tidal test facility on Eday in the Orkney Islands.

Rolls-Royce and easyJet claimed the test marked a major step towards proving hydrogen could be a zero carbon aviation fuel in the future and reflected each companies' own decarbonisation strategies.

A second set of tests has been planned in line with a long-term ambition to carry out flight tests.

"The UK is leading the global shift to guilt-free flying, and today's test by Rolls-Royce and easyJet is an exciting demonstration of how business innovation can transform the way we live our lives," said Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Secretary Grant Shapps.

The two companies said the partnership, which was announced in July, was inspired by the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign, committing to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Shares in Rolls-Royce were up 0.4% to 91.19 pence, while easyJet shares were up 0.7% to 407.75 pence in London on Monday morning.