A vacuum cleaning appliance

A vacuum cleaning appliance comprises a body 12 having a longitudinal axis (X, fig 4) a motor unit (16, fig 4) located in the body for creating an airflow through the appliance, a handle 26 having a first end connected to the body and a free, second end, the handle extending along the longitudinal axis, and a filter assembly 90 detachably connected to the body proximate to the first end of the handle, the filter assembly defining a bore (103, fig 7) running through the filter assembly along the longitudinal axis, the bore being shaped to allow the filter assembly to slide along the handle towards the second end thereof following detachment from the body. The filter assembly is preferably annular in shape and when connected to the body, at least part of the filter assembly may extend about the handle and motor unit. The handle preferably houses a removable battery pack for supplying energy to the motor unit