PLANS to place special chewing gum boards around Blackburn to stop people spitting it on the floor have been ditched -- because they would be too unhygienic.

But council chiefs say they haven't found a solution to an increasingly sticky problem -- and one which threatens to cover paving stones worth millions of pounds in a sea of spat-out gum.

The idea for boards was first raised nearly two years ago, when backbench councillors heard of similar schemes in Bournemouth and Manchester being hailed a success.

Pictures of celebrities -- including Lord Archer and Jeremy Beadle, and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein -- were put up and people were asked to stick the gum on their faces rather than on the floor.

An investigation into the idea has taken place, and last month, Blackburn with Darwen's youth council also proposed the idea.

But Peter Hunt, director of direct services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "We feel such a scheme would be hygienic so it is not being pursued.

"We do, however, have on-the-spot fines for people caught littering."

One scheme employed by Chorley Council involved freezing sections of pavement and then chipping the gum off. But it proved costly and long-winded -- and left big blotches where the gum had been.

Another involves strong chemicals, but councils are reluctant to use it in public areas.

Traders, however, feel that if a solution is not found, the multi-million pound regeneration of Blackburn town centre could be tarnished.

Streets including Church Street, Darwen Street, Railway Road and Fleming Square have all benefited from expensive new paving slabs which are now slowly being covered in gum.

When Ronnie O'Keeffe, who runs Gallery 19 in Darwen Street, was president of Blackburn's Chamber of Trade, he said: "There is no point spending millions on improving the town if the right enforcement isn't in place to keep it looking nice."