Government declares war on gum
The government is said to be planning a tough new campaign to tackle the growing problem of chewing gum.
Recent research found that 95 per cent of British towns and cities now have discarded pieces of gum on their streets.
The same study, commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, also warned that litter from fast food restaurants had increased by around 12 per cent.
According to the Times newspaper, the government is considering a number of proposals, including gum boards.
The boards would feature pictures of celebrity chewers – such as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. People would be asked to stick their gum on the boards rather than discarding it.
Local councils spend an average of £20,000 a year trying to clean pieces of gum from their streets, using a variety of methods including high-speed water jets.
