NO one could accuse civic leader Mel Kendal of failing to face up to the problem of littering in the New Forest.

For the council chief is volunteering to let youngsters use his mug for target practice - using chewing gum as ammunition.

Cllr Kendal has suggested youngsters should stick their old gum to photos of his face instead of treading it into the pavement.

He said picture targets of himself or prime minister Tony Blair would be the perfect way to rid the streets of the offending confectionery.

Chewers stuck 7,000 pieces of gum to targets during a three-month pilot of a similar scheme in Bournemouth.

Tory Cllr Kendal made the tongue-in-cheek suggestion at a meeting of the New Forest District Council Cabinet.

Opposition members criticised the ruling executive for not publishing a chewing gum strategy in its latest Best Value Report.

Liberal Democrat Maureen Robinson said: "Chewing gum on the floor on pavements is a great nuisance and has a big impact on our ability to keep streets and public places clean.

"But there is no mention in the report of how we're going to deal with that issue."

Cllr Kendal immediately suggested publishing pictures of himself on targets like the ones in Bournemouth. He said: "Perhaps me and Tony Blair could ask people to stick their gums there."

Cllr Robinson later welcomed the idea. She said after the meeting: "Why not? I've got nothing against that if it works for the public. It's a low-cost solution. If it stops a few pieces of chewing gum being trodden into the pavement then it's a good idea. "If he's seriously volunteering himself I think he's very brave."

A spokeswoman for Bournemouth Borough Council said their chewing gum targets had been scrapped. She said it was more economical to clean the gum off the pavement.