COUNCIL has put its money where its mouth is and bought a new machine to tackle a sticky problem -- chewing gum.

Chorley Borough Council has spent £13,000 buying a 'gumbuster' which will trawl the streets clearing up gum which has been trodden into pavements.

The council got the machine after a public consultation exercise revealed unsightly gum was among taxpayers' top gripes. The council is employing extra staff to man the 'gumbuster.'

Chorley Council's executive member for community services, Coun Mary Wilson, said: You only have to look down around your feet as you walk through parts of Chorley, particularly the pedestrianised areas, to see what a horrible mess is being made."

The gumbusting machine, which uses high-pressure water jets to lift the gum off pavements, is one of a number of ways East Lancashire councils are addressing the chewing gum problem.

Blackburn with Darwen tried blasting gum with high-pressure solvents, while Hyndburn Council staff have tried to freeze it with chemicals and then chip it off with special tools.