Ref. 28834-14DOG owners in Cricklade have been warned to dispose of dog mess or face prosecution for carelessness.

Cricklade Town Council has launched an awareness campaign after receiving numerous complaints, particularly from parents, that the town's pavements and grass verges are littered with dog mess.

Officers have now created a display, featuring a fake faeces, in the window of the High Street offices.

Civic leaders hope the exhibit will act as a talking point and alert dog owners to their duties.

Town councillor Brian Atfield said: "We hope the display will make quite an impression and make people clear up after their pets."

One parent was particularly upset after her four-year-old daughter stepped in dog mess on the way to school and then rode her bike over some the next day. Coun Atfield said: "There are the health issues, especially for young children, who can catch infections from waste.

"And it is also very unpleasant for anyone who steps in it. They carry it home and that is just terrible.

"A lot of people are responsible dog owners, it is just the minority who are not."

North Wiltshire District Council enforces a law which requires people to pick up any faeces left on land such as public roads, footpaths, grass verges and parks.

People who do not pick up their dog's faeces in those areas may be issued with a fixed penalty fine of £50 or prosecuted. The maximum fine is £1,000 if they are prosecuted.

Dog owners should place dog waste in red bins, specifically designed for the disposal of pet faeces, which are located around the town. If there are no bins then the waste should be taken home.

Carole Northam, of North Wiltshire District Council, said: "If a dog leaves some waste, and it is witnessed by a dog warden, then the owner will be asked to remove it. If they refuse to do so, they are issued with a fixed penalty notice. If they pay the notice and the same thing happens again, then the council can prosecute the offender.

"If there is no warden around, we can still prosecute provided two independent witnesses are willing to testify in court against the offender."

If you have a dog complaint contact North Wiltshire District Council on 01249 706111.

Bhavani Vadde