GOING off what can be seen so far of the new surface of expensive stone flags and exotic granite blocks being laid in town-centre Church Street in Blackburn, even the most ardent critics of its pedestrianisation will have to admit that it not only looks good, but has also got loads of class.

Enough, indeed, to match the poshest piazza on the Continent and well capable, I'd say, of charming the caf society that the council hopes to lure to the town.

But step beyond this emerging showpiece and you'll find the pavements strewn with unsightly gobbets of discarded chewing gum -- something that will surely take some shifting from the rough-hewn granite blocks now going down in Church Street. Is this effort to drag Blackburn up-market -- and attract shoppers and inward investment -- going to be spoiled at the outset by gum-chewing morons? Or will the Council have the GUMption to prosecute offenders -- discarded gum is litter, after all, is it not? -- and protect the new-look Church Street from this menace?

I offer the suggestion for them to chew on.