CIVIC leaders in Trowbridge are backing a bid by Aberdeen City Council to force chewing gum manufacturers into helping pay for cleaning up Great Britain's streets.

Town councillors are fuming at the cost of clearing gum off the county town's streets and believe profit-rich manufacturers should be made to stump-up the costs through a levy.

Aberdeen City Council is the first council to call on the Government to consider introducing the charge to help deal with what it called a "massive and costly problem".

The town council has written a letter of support to the Scottish city council backing the campaign.

West Wiltshire District Council has also written a letter to pledge its backing.

Cllr Andrew Bryant said the council had spent a fortune on clearing up chewing gum off the streets.

He said: "It's rubbish. It is permanently on the ground.

"We have spent a substantial amount of money on the problem."