IT is debatable whether councils should go as far as putting up pictures of 'unpopular' celebrities to encourage people to stick their discarded chewing gum on them instead of spitting it out on to the pavement.

But though this is one idea, tried elsewhere, that could be introduced in East Lancashire, it is evident that extra measures are needed to combat the nuisance caused by thrown-away gum.

There is already too much of it. Not only is it unsightly, it is difficult and expensive to remove -- especially when councils have to hire specialist contractors to deal with it. And without proper prevention, it is a problem and a cost that keeps coming back.

Quite rightly, Blackburn with Darwen Council is setting out to get to grips with this anti-social bane.

Its new town-centre rangers who start work in the spring will be setting out to educate people to keep gum in their mouths or in litter bins. But they will also be backing up this approach with on-the-spot fines of £50 for those who do spit it out -- and employing closed-circuit TV evidence against those who go to court to deny the offence.

Blackburn, with millions of pounds ploughed into regeneration projects -- like re-paved Church Street -- to make the town-centre more attractive, may have added incentive for attacking this problem.

But as it is one that blights all of East Lancashire's towns, all our councils would do well to do likewise and step up their efforts to get rid of this nasty nuisance.