An agitator for a surface treating appliance. The agitator comprises an agitator body having an axis, and a bristle strip carried on the agitator body and extending along a central region of the agitator body and an end region of the agitator body. The bristle strip includes a plurality of bristles aligned in a row, and wherein bristles associated with the end region of the agitator extend in a direction that defines an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the agitator. In this way, the bristles on the ends of the agitator are provided with a outwardly swept configuration that increases the effective swept width of the agitator.