A council has declared war on chewing gum by hiring a firm to wipe it off the streets.

Workers at Gum Fighters have been brought in to make sure the streets of Hailsham are gum-free.

The company uses a high-pressure hose to lift the gum off the pavements, leaving the streets free of the sticky nuisance.

Hailsham Town Council decided to tackle the problem after complaints from residents.

A council spokesman said gum made the streets unsightly and upset people who trod in it.

She said: "It is not a bigger problem than anywhere else but we have just decided to deal with it. We hope Gum Fighters does the trick."