The bane of every cleaner at every cleaning site may finally be put to rest with a new chewing gum that does not stick and can easily be removed from any surface it contacts. The gum may be available in 2008.

'Clean Gum' has a 'great taste,' may be biodegradable, and is easily removed, said Terence Cosgrove, chemistry professor at Bristol University and founder of the company Revolymer, to commercialise the technology.

Tests in two street trials showed that the new gum was removable after 24 hours, while the normal gum remained stuck three out of four times.