A HI-TECH cleaning machine to scrub chewing gum and fast food grease from Worcester's High Street is on the cards - at a cost of more than £100,000.

Since the first phase of the High Street redevelopment was opened in May, Worcester City Council has been concerned about gum, food and seagull droppings staining the new surface and paving stones.

Most of the council's cleaning fleet is aimed at sweeping up litter, and although it has used jets and other washing equipment, an increase in grease stains on the pavement, particularly from fast food, means more regular scrubbing is needed.

It is now planning to hire a cold water wash and sweeping machine, which will cost £528 a week or £109,832 over four years, to tackle the problem before it becomes permanent.

City council officer Dean Hogan said: "The machines previously employed were all based on collecting litter. "The current problems, however, have arisen as a result of changing eating habits, and have resulted in increased stains, spills and grease detracting from the appearance of the new surfaces, in addition to large quantities of chewing gum.

"These contribute to a need to not only litter pick but to also undertake a regular washing/scrubbing process." A hot water, pressure jet system was dismissed by the city council because of fears it would damage the street surface.

The favoured Aquazura Eco-Washer machine was originally to be rented over five years, but because of the speed technology moves forward, a four-year deal has been proposed.

Mr Hogan added: "The longer the High Street surface is left untreated, the harder it will be to return it to anything like the original condition. The costs associated with this mach-ine are considerable, but on the evidence of the trials, it will significantly assist in maintaining an attractive appearance to the area."

The city council's cabinet will consider whether or not to rent the machine - as officers recommend - at a meeting tomorrow.

The move comes after a former mayor, councillor Gareth Jones, called for more prosecutions for litter-dropping in Worcester.