EVESHAM is getting all gummed up and keeping the town clean is a major headache.

Nearly 20 million people in Britain chew gum and almost a billion packets are brought each year - a lot of it getting deposited in the streets of towns and villages in the Vale of Evesham.

Nationally, an estimated £150 million a year is spent on cleaning up discarded chewing gum.

Next week a "gum summit" will be staged in London to thrash out ways of tackling the problem. Ideas include on-the-spot fines and a Government tax on gum manufacturers.

Mayor of Evesham, Andrew Dykes, has chewed gum all his life but is appalled about the way in which spent gum gets spat out in public.

"Its disgusting stuff that gets all over the place. People drop it on the floor, it gets on shoes and then onto carpets. I am constantly having to pick it up from the floor in my shop," said Andrew Dykes.

"There seems to be more of it about than 10 or 15 years ago. I am not sure if it has anything to do with people giving up smoking and using chewing gum as a substitute.

"All people have to do when they have finished chewing is to put the gum into a bin or wrap it in a bit of paper and slip it into the pocket."

Wychavon cleaning chiefs say getting rid of gum is a major problem and they are fighting a losing battle.

"It is very expensive to get rid of and requires the use of private contractors using steam cleaners. Two years ago we spent £10,000 on this but after a few weeks there was as much gum as ever so we have to decide whether it was a good use of money," said Mark Edwards, Waste Management Officer for Wychavon District Council.

"Dropping gum is an offence that can result in a £1,000 fine. It is hard to prosecute because the culprit has to be caught in the act and getting people prepared to be witnesses is very hard," said Mark.

But he said the authority employs street monitors and if they spot anyone dropping chewing gum perpetrators could be prosecuted.