Spitting in public should come under more scrutiny and even be banned according to a number of councillors.

Cranbrook ward Cllr Ashok Kumar has called for the anti-social act to be deterred and treated in the same way as public drinking.

Speaking at an area committee seven meeting held on Tuesday in Aldborough E-ACT Free School, Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, he said: “I have watched CCTV cameras at Exchange Ilford spot public drinkers and police apprehend them further down the street.

“If people are caught spitting in the street they should be caught. We only need one or two cases to form a deterrent.”

The committee looked to the London borough of Enfield, which is trying to ban public spitting, and questioned the viability of a similar attempt in Redbridge.

Cabinet member for environment and public safety Shoaib Patel said: “I have already put requests in to look in to this matter.

“In football the FA are trying to get this out of the game and we are looking at that situation, as well as Enfield.

“We will be having a meeting shortly to discuss the despicable and disgusting habit.”