Ref. 28390-76CHEWING gum has already blighted the recently re-paved streets of Wootton Bassett.

The problem has got so bad that civic leaders have decided to hire a gum removal machine to give the market town a facelift in the New Year.

And Councillor Olivia Thomas is urging residents to treat gum like any other form of rubbish and to dispose of it in a bin.

To tie in with the forthcoming spring clean, the town council will also be launching a litter awareness campaign in the form of a children's poster competition.

North Wiltshire District Council installed the York stone paving in the High Street as part of £100,000 street enhancements.

But within months the pavement has already been covered with gum.

Coun Thomas said: "It is all up and down the High Street. It is particularly bad outside places where people congregate like public houses.

"The gum was really noticeable after the new paving was put in.

"People spit it out thinking it is biodegradable but it really sticks and is difficult to remove."

The removal machine costs £3,000, half of which has been contributed by North Wiltshire District Council.

It acts like a pressure washer, which lifts the gum off the pavements.

"I think it is an ongoing problem but now we have the technology to do something about it.

"It will be quite nice to tidy up the town. Sticky gum is just one thing that makes it look horrible," she said.

Coun Thomas hopes a poster competition will encourage people to take more pride in their town. Schoolchildren will be invited take part and the winning design will be professionally printed.

"Children are incredible sponges for information and they should take the message home to their parents," she said.

"There is a big focus on rubbish in Wootton Bassett at the moment. Most of the town has doorstep recycling and the district council will be providing homes with wheelie bins in the New Year."

Bhavani Vadde