A CLEAN-up of Evesham town centre has seen 70,000 pieces of chewing gum picked up over the past four months.

Wychavon District Council launched the project, which includes an anti-gum dropping campaign, in May, and the amount of gum being dropped on the town’s streets has since decreased by 30 per cent.

Now the council’s street cleaning contactors FCC Environment have brought in a pavement sweeper to clean up cigarette ends and other rubbish.

The council is also working with schools in the area to educate youngsters about litter as well as Evesham Town Council on a wider anti-litter campaign.

Portfolio holder for environment Cllr Emma Stokes said the campaign had been launched in response to comments by residents.

“There has been a noticeable improvement since we began the clean up but it’s disappointing people are still dropping gum, cigarettes and other litter,” she said.

“People need to understand by dropping gum and cigarette ends it’s costing them money.

“Wychavon spends £1.5million a year on street cleansing and if people disposed of their litter properly we could spend that money elsewhere or on keeping council tax down.

“It’s also illegal and could result in a £75 fine.

“There are plenty of bins available and I would urge people to use them. Our message is simple don’t drop it, bin it.”

The council have also committed to carry out a deep-clean of Evesham town centre every year on top of everyday street cleaning.