CHEWING gum has almost disappeared from Southend High Street thanks to a night time cleaning team.

Council bosses revealed the cost of the clean up was about a £1 per square foot of the High Street.

From Victoria Circus to the top of the seafront cliffs, the chewing gum has almost disappeared from under shoppers' feet.

Intex Cleaning Services has been cleaning the street throughout the night and next week starts on Basildon's streets.

Waste management officer at Southend Council, Imran Kaz-albash, said: "We recognised there were problems in the High Street, made provision in the budget and the company has been here for about six weeks. The company could be back about once a year.

"But it's more important we encourage people to use the waste bins in the High Street.

"There are more than 30 of them, so there is no excuse to drop chewing gum or litter.

"Already we've had very good feedback from shopkeepers and shoppers about the lack of chewing gum."

Intex cleans for more than 30 councils in the UK and services range from one-off annual cleans to a 51 weeks a year programme in Manchester.

General manager Lee Western said: "Our water-only system operates at pressures between 1,200 and 2,000 psi and most equipment able to match us operates at pressures exceeding 6,500 psi, which can damage surfaces.

"We work between 6pm and 6am.

"We did the town a few years ago and we know the council looked at about seven solutions before choosing us.

"As well as cleaning the pavement we are also sealing it so it will be easier to clean next time."

Mr Western said the pressure and the temperature of the water, which is at around boiling point, simply dissolves the gum and then washes it away.