A council has received a £25,000 grant to tackle a sticky issue across Ipswich and local areas.

Established by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who want to clean up and invest in ways to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place. 

Ipswich Borough Council received a £25,550 grant to tackle the issue and is one of only eight councils that has achieved funding three years in a row. 

The scheme is run by Keep Britain Tidy and is funded by gum manufacturers such as Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle.

READ MORE: New therapy service introduced to boost mental health in Suffolk

Ipswich Borough Council portfolio holder for environment and transport Cllr Phil Smart said: "We are pleased to have been awarded Chewing Gum Task Force funding making a hattrick for our waste team who have been working tirelessly against chewing gum litter in Ipswich over the past three years. 

"This funding will allow us to purchase specialist equipment to remove chewing gum as well as implementing behaviour change signage as we endeavour to stop gum being littered in Ipswich. 

"Importantly it will also support our recycling education programme in schools and community groups to show children and young people the impact chewing gum has on our wildlife and our environment, to stop it being dropped in the first place."

Councillor Phil Smart (front) of Ipswich Borough CouncilCouncillor Phil Smart (front) of Ipswich Borough Council (Image: Ipswich Borough Council) READ MORE: Suffolk aims to encourage more walking and cycling around Ipswich

Allison Odgen-Newton OBE, the chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: "Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is welcome. 

"However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it's gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be, in a bin. That is why the behaviour change element of the Task Force’s work is so important.”