It is estimated there are 15 pieces of gum in every square metre

Waste bosses estimate that is the weight of the gum dropped in Slough town centre - about 15 pieces on every square metre of pavement.

For four weeks from Tuesday, council workers will be using a specialist steam machine to clean up the area.

And they say anyone caught dropping litter of any kind will face a fine.

Nigel Dicker, the council's head of environmental services, said: "The gum is in even higher concentrations around food shop doorways and outside bars, as people spit their gum out before going in."

The clean-up is happening in the run up to the start of the council's Keep Slough Green and Tidy campaign, which will be launched on 22 March.