Pupils of Ramsgate school, Old Priory School, join Thanet District Council in chewing gum litter campaign.

Children from a Ramsgate school have joined a new campaign against chewing gum litter.

Youngsters at Old Priory School designed T-shirts for Thanet council's "bin your gum when you're done" initiative and were in Ramsgate High Street to model the winning clothing.

Shoppers in the town were also handed free 'gum wraps' and 'Stubbies', allowing them to dispose of chewing gum and cigarette butts in an environmentally friendly and hygienic way.

Cllr Shirley Tomlinson, responsible for environmental services at Thanet council, said: "Chewing gum is the most difficult type of litter we have to deal with. Because it's so sticky, normal cleaning methods, such as street cleaning and litter picking, just don't work.

"Instead, we have to use more extreme methods, like jet washing or steam cleaning, to remove it and both cost a lot of money."

The council's waste and recycling team was joined by community wardens at the event, which also highlighted the £80 Fixed Penalty Notices handed out to anyone seen dropping litter.