4 July 2012 Last updated at 08:26 ET

Offenders to clean chewing gum from Fife streets

Low-level offenders will clean the chewing gum from Fife's streets

Offenders are to be sent out to remove chewing gum from pavements in Fife as part of work to pay back communities for the damage they have done.

The Community Payback initiative is the first of its kind in Scotland and has been developed by Fife Council's criminal justice social work team.

The initiative was today praised by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

It follows laws brought in so communities can have a say on work they want to low level offenders to do.

'Real struggle'

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "The ugly sight of blotches of chewing gum littering our pavements is unfortunately a common problem for many communities up and down the country.

"It's a bugbear for many, people want to see something being done about it, and this project will now see action being taken to clean up our streets for the benefit of the community.

"The council and street cleaners do their best, but finding the resources and labour required to return pavements to the condition the community expect is often a real struggle.

"We should be using these offenders as a resource to make improvements to local communities as pay back for the damage they have done and Fife Council are to be congratulated for this initiative."

Judy Hamilton, Fife Council's executive spokesperson for social work and health, said: "I am pleased to see an imaginative dispersal of funds into this, as one of a wide range of projects that will see real benefits in our communities."