CHEWING gum has been named by Bolton Council chiefs as one of their biggest enemies in the war on litter.

Thousands of pounds are spent each year removing the growing carpet of gum spat on to our pavements.

But new fixed penalty fines are being heralded as a weapon to banish the sticky mess.

Council chiefs sick of hiring expensive contractors to rid gum using chemicals and high-pressure jets hope the new £50 fines will act as deterrent.

The fines will replace the yellow card scheme that has been running since the start of the month in just six days.

More than 100 cards have been handed out so far by a team of enforcement officers to people caught dropping litter .

The cards warn that, after June 1, offenders will be "sent off" with red-coloured fixed penalty notices or the prospect of a trip to court and a maximum £1,000 fine.

A council spokesman said: "The potential savings in solving the chewing gum problem are absolutely huge.

"We're hoping that the fines will help to deter people from disposing of the gum in what they currently see as a perfectly legitimate way.

"It is a real eyesore and something which creates the wrong impression for any visitors to the town centre."

The area surrounding the town hall and Victoria Square - where a £1 million face-lift saw natural stone paving laid five years ago - has been named as one of the areas worst affected by discarded gum.

But footpaths all around Bolton town centre as well as pedestrian areas of Horwich, Farnworth and Westhoughton have been identified as problem areas where the enforcement teams will be aiming to catch offenders.

"The recent quotes we have had for cleaning the area directly in front of the town hall run into thousands of pounds," the spokesman said.

"Gum is all around the town centre and it will be very close to the top of our list of targets when we begin the fixed penalties."