Chewing gum disposal points could soon appear in the town as part of a scheme to tackle the litter problem.

The sticky substance costs tax payers thousands of pounds a year but plans are in place to install special bins for the gum and impose fines on those who drop theirs on the pavement.

Warwick District Council will approach the executive to ask for a government grant to fund the plans.

Coun Elizabeth Higgins (Con, Warwick West) said: "The parade in Leamington is absolutely disgusting with chewing gum everywhere and if you get it on your shoe it won't come off.

"The motion will be put to the executive in February and I can't see any reason why they would veto it"

The scheme will involve putting the gum bins in areas where people are most likely to gather such as shops, night clubs and bus stops.

Posters would also be displayed marking chewing gum free zones of a radius of about 100 meters, in which those caught dropping their gum may have to pay an £80 penalty.

Coun Higgins saw the benefits of these measures while she was at a Conservative party conference last year.

He said: "I discovered Blackpool was doing it and I was just amazed.

"More people would want to live in Leamington but the streets are disgusting."

Coventry and Solihull have already put disposal points in place in their main shopping areas.

Chewing gum manufacturers are currently providing an annual sum of £650,000 to support their work with the government and other organisations to encourage people to bin their gum.

The government has estimated that authorities spend £13,000 on average in cleaning up the problem each year but some could spend up to £200,000.

Ben Bradshaw, the minister for local environment quality, said: "Irresponsible dropping of chewing gum on pavements is an incredibly antisocial activity that blights our public spaces.

"It can be very expensive and time consuming for those who have to clear up the mess."