diff --git a/__tests__/main.test.ts b/__tests__/main.test.ts
index 002f9694..6b8f3da2 100644
--- a/__tests__/main.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/main.test.ts
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ test('processing a stale issue containing a space in the label will close it', a
 
   const processor = new IssueProcessor(
     opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
     async (num, dt) => [],
     async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
@@ -240,6 +241,7 @@ test('processing a stale issue containing a slash in the label will close it', a
 
   const processor = new IssueProcessor(
     opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
     async (num, dt) => [],
     async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
@@ -430,8 +432,8 @@ test('stale closed prs will not be closed', async () => {
     DefaultProcessorOptions,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -457,7 +459,7 @@ test('locked issues will not be marked stale', async () => {
   const processor = new IssueProcessor(
     DefaultProcessorOptions,
     async () => 'abot',
-    async p => p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : [])
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -484,8 +486,8 @@ test('stale locked issues will not be closed', async () => {
     DefaultProcessorOptions,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -511,7 +513,7 @@ test('locked prs will not be marked stale', async () => {
   const processor = new IssueProcessor(
     DefaultProcessorOptions,
     async () => 'abot',
-    async p => p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : [])
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -538,8 +540,8 @@ test('stale locked prs will not be closed', async () => {
     DefaultProcessorOptions,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -563,8 +565,8 @@ test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale', async () => {
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -586,8 +588,8 @@ test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale (multi issue label with space
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -609,8 +611,8 @@ test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale (multi issue label)', async (
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -635,8 +637,8 @@ test('exempt pr labels will not be marked stale', async () => {
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -661,8 +663,8 @@ test('stale issues should not be closed if days is set to -1', async () => {
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -690,8 +692,8 @@ test('stale label should be removed if a comment was added to a stale issue', as
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [{user: {login: 'notme', type: 'User'}}], // return a fake comment to indicate there was an update
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [{user: {login: 'notme', type: 'User'}}], // return a fake comment to indicate there was an update
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -721,8 +723,8 @@ test('stale label should not be removed if a comment was added by the bot (and t
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [{user: {login: 'abot', type: 'User'}}], // return a fake comment to indicate there was an update by the bot
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [{user: {login: 'abot', type: 'User'}}], // return a fake comment to indicate there was an update by the bot
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -752,9 +754,10 @@ test('stale label containing a space should be removed if a comment was added to
 
   const processor = new IssueProcessor(
     opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [{user: {login: 'notme', type: 'User'}}], // return a fake comment to indicate there was an update
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [{user: {login: 'notme', type: 'User'}}], // return a fake comment to indicate there was an update
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -818,8 +821,8 @@ test('stale issues should be closed if the closed nubmer of days (additive) is a
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // process our fake issue list
@@ -883,8 +886,8 @@ test('skips stale message on issues when skip-stale-issue-message is set', async
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // for sake of testing, mocking private function
@@ -928,8 +931,8 @@ test('skips stale message on prs when skip-stale-pr-message is set', async () =>
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   // for sake of testing, mocking private function
@@ -974,8 +977,8 @@ test('not providing state takes precedence over skipStaleIssueMessage', async ()
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   await processor.processIssues(1);
@@ -1008,8 +1011,8 @@ test('not providing stalePrMessage takes precedence over skipStalePrMessage', as
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   await processor.processIssues(1);
@@ -1035,9 +1038,10 @@ test('git branch is deleted when option is enabled', async () => {
 
   const processor = new IssueProcessor(
     opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   await processor.processIssues(1);
@@ -1063,9 +1067,10 @@ test('git branch is not deleted when issue is not pull request', async () => {
 
   const processor = new IssueProcessor(
     opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
     async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
-    async (num, dt) => [],
-    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+    async (num: number, dt: string) => [],
+    async (issue: Issue, label: string) => new Date().toDateString()
   );
 
   await processor.processIssues(1);
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index d711bb8c..201ea3ec 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class IssueProcessor {
         this.operationsLeft = 0;
         this.staleIssues = [];
         this.closedIssues = [];
+        this.deletedBranchIssues = [];
         this.removedLabelIssues = [];
         this.options = options;
         this.operationsLeft = options.operationsPerRun;
@@ -119,6 +120,12 @@ class IssueProcessor {
                 }
                 // does this issue have a stale label?
                 let isStale = is_labeled_1.isLabeled(issue, staleLabel);
+                if (isStale) {
+                    core.info(`This issue has a stale label`);
+                }
+                else {
+                    core.info(`This issue hasn't a stale label`);
+                }
                 // should this issue be marked stale?
                 const shouldBeStale = !IssueProcessor.updatedSince(issue.updated_at, this.options.daysBeforeStale);
                 // determine if this issue needs to be marked stale first
@@ -162,6 +169,11 @@ class IssueProcessor {
             if (!issueHasComments && !issueHasUpdate) {
                 core.info(`Closing ${issueType} because it was last updated on ${issue.updated_at}`);
                 yield this.closeIssue(issue, closeMessage, closeLabel);
+                if (this.options.deleteBranch && issue.pull_request) {
+                    core.info(`Deleting branch for #${issue.number} as delete-branch option was specified`);
+                    yield this.deleteBranch(issue);
+                    this.deletedBranchIssues.push(issue);
+                }
             }
             else {
                 core.info(`Stale ${issueType} is not old enough to close yet (hasComments? ${issueHasComments}, hasUpdate? ${issueHasUpdate})`);
@@ -325,12 +337,56 @@ class IssueProcessor {
             }
         });
     }
+    getPullRequest(pullNumber) {
+        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+            this.operationsLeft -= 1;
+            try {
+                const pullRequest = yield this.client.pulls.get({
+                    owner: github_1.context.repo.owner,
+                    repo: github_1.context.repo.repo,
+                    pull_number: pullNumber
+                });
+                return pullRequest.data;
+            }
+            catch (error) {
+                core.error(`Error getting pull request ${pullNumber}: ${error.message}`);
+            }
+        });
+    }
+    // Delete the branch on closed pull request
+    deleteBranch(issue) {
+        return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+            core.info(`Delete branch from closed issue #${issue.number} - ${issue.title}`);
+            if (this.options.debugOnly) {
+                return;
+            }
+            const pullRequest = yield this.getPullRequest(issue.number);
+            if (!pullRequest) {
+                core.info(`Not deleting branch as pull request not found for issue ${issue.number}`);
+                return;
+            }
+            const branch = pullRequest.head.ref;
+            core.info(`Deleting branch ${branch} from closed issue #${issue.number}`);
+            this.operationsLeft -= 1;
+            try {
+                yield this.client.git.deleteRef({
+                    owner: github_1.context.repo.owner,
+                    repo: github_1.context.repo.repo,
+                    ref: `heads/${branch}`
+                });
+            }
+            catch (error) {
+                core.error(`Error deleting branch ${branch} from issue #${issue.number}: ${error.message}`);
+            }
+        });
+    }
     // Remove a label from an issue
     removeLabel(issue, label) {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
-            core.info(`Removing label from issue #${issue.number}`);
+            core.info(`Removing label "${label}" from issue #${issue.number}`);
             this.removedLabelIssues.push(issue);
             this.operationsLeft -= 1;
+            // @todo remove the debug only to be able to test the code below
             if (this.options.debugOnly) {
                 return;
             }
@@ -339,7 +395,7 @@ class IssueProcessor {
                     owner: github_1.context.repo.owner,
                     repo: github_1.context.repo.repo,
                     issue_number: issue.number,
-                    name: encodeURIComponent(label) // A label can have a "?" in the name
+                    name: label
                 });
             }
             catch (error) {
@@ -517,7 +573,8 @@ function getAndValidateArgs() {
         debugOnly: core.getInput('debug-only') === 'true',
         ascending: core.getInput('ascending') === 'true',
         skipStalePrMessage: core.getInput('skip-stale-pr-message') === 'true',
-        skipStaleIssueMessage: core.getInput('skip-stale-issue-message') === 'true'
+        skipStaleIssueMessage: core.getInput('skip-stale-issue-message') === 'true',
+        deleteBranch: core.getInput('delete-branch') === 'true'
     };
     for (const numberInput of [
         'days-before-stale',
diff --git a/src/IssueProcessor.ts b/src/IssueProcessor.ts
index 0ea7814d..78b9b90c 100644
--- a/src/IssueProcessor.ts
+++ b/src/IssueProcessor.ts
@@ -309,8 +309,7 @@ export class IssueProcessor {
     const comments = await this.listIssueComments(issue.number, sinceDate);
 
     const filteredComments = comments.filter(
-      comment =>
-        comment.user.type === 'User' && comment.user.login !== actor
+      comment => comment.user.type === 'User' && comment.user.login !== actor
     );
 
     core.info(
@@ -347,10 +346,10 @@ export class IssueProcessor {
     try {
       actor = await this.client.users.getAuthenticated();
     } catch (error) {
-      return context.actor
+      return context.actor;
     }
 
-    return actor.data.login
+    return actor.data.login;
   }
 
   // grab issues from github in baches of 100