CHEWING gum on the borough's streets is being blitzed this month as part of a campaign by the Borough Council to cut down on the sticky problem.

The national chewing gum removal specialists Gumfighters has been hired for one month by Halton Borough Council's Neighbourhood Services directorate to blitz both Widnes and Runcorn town centres.

Using hi-tech equipment, a specialist Gumfighters team removes stubborn chewing gum from the pavements by a system of using high temperature, low-pressure steam mixed with an environmentally friendly cleaning agent.

The fully trained Gumfighters operators have already started removing chewing gum from the pedestrianised part of Albert Road in Widnes town centre and will soon target other areas of the borough which have been identified by the Borough Council for the clean-up.

Areas with the heaviest clustering of gum deposits include spots outside fast-food restaurants, night-clubs, cinemas, train and bus stations and shopping centres.

Cllr Stan Hill, Executive Board member for the Environment, said; "Unimaginable quantities of chewing gum are consumed every year in Halton and a large part of this gum is carelessly thrown away on the street and pavements in the borough.

"Traditional remedies of freezing and scraping or pressure washing can damage surfaces and grouting which in turn can cause flooding.

"But this new technique used by Gumfighters is an environmentally friendly way to remove gum which can look unsightly on our streets."

Mark Williams-Thomas, marketing manager of Gumfighters, added: "We are a franchise organisation which provides chewing gum pollution removal services to areas across the country.

"We use unique technology which is quiet, versatile and sympathetic to the many surfaces in typical town streets such as those in Halton.

"We're pleased to be working in partnership with Halton Borough Council to help combat the problem of gum pollution and hope that people in the area will also help us by throwing their gum in bins and not on the pavements."