As part of the Grot Spot campaign in the Spalding Guardian we got hold of a machine that South Holland District Council is hoping to use to rid the district of gum and graffiti.

Resident Philip Jackson highlighted the problem of chewing gum trodden into the pavement around Trinity Bridge and we arranged for the machine's owners to try their machine out on the troublesome spot.

Parish council chairman Peter Haselgrove said: "We have tried to remove it in the past ourselves and haven't been very successful.

"We want visitors and tourists to come to Crowland as well as our own parishioners and Trinity Bridge is a lovely ancient monument.

"It is a pity that its beauty is distracted from by chewing gum on the slabs in front."

Mr Haselgrove was impressed by the demonstration by Farrow System sales manager Daniel Clarke and hopes to see a similar machine in the district soon.

He said: "I am delighted with what it has done.

"We are more than happy to support the district council getting one of these machines. It even turns the stone back to its natural colour which is another bonus. I am impressed."

Coun Howard Johnson has seen the machine in operation himself and feels that buying one would be extremely useful in helping to keep the streets clean.

He said: "We have all seen the white marks chewing gum leaves on the pavement and unfortunately it gets spread around on people's shoes and then becomes difficult to pick up.

"This machine will just simply blow it away."