A CAMPAIGN to clean up part of a town, has been given a boost by a gum-buster.

As part of its Clean and Green Neighbourhood Blitz in the Southwold area of Bicester, Cherwell District Council bought in a machine to clear chewing gum stains from the streets.

Councillor Kieron Mallon, portfolio holder for the environment, said: "This was one of the issues that people in the area have raised as a priority, so we were pleased to be able to make this an extra feature of this campaign."

The gum-buster took to the streets in Holm Square.

Southwold is the latest area to play host to Cherwell's Neighbourhood Blitz teams and their week-long cleansing campaign, which features extra street sweeping, clearing graffiti, bulky waste collections, a car amnesty to remove unwanted vehicles. they are also designed to remind people that a fixed penalty notice of £75 can be issued to offenders caught dropping litter.

Mr Mallon added: "Like all of our blitz campaigns, this will make a big difference.

"But it's up to the local community to help keep it that way in the weeks and months to come. Dealing with chewing gum properly is an easy part of that. If people wrapped it and binned it, we wouldn't have the problem of gum messing up our streets and the cost to taxpayers of clearing it up."