DOG mess has angered Stratton St Margaret residents so badly the parish council is increasing the number of dog bins by nearly 25 per cent.

The 29 existing bins are all located in the council's recreation grounds, but there have been calls for more to be added in non-council owned areas across the parish.

Council clerk Bob Blake said: "Because of the way dog owners leave their mess about there have been a lot of requests from parishioners for something to be done.

"We are also having a problem with dog owners who collect the mess but don't have anywhere to put it.

"Being a large parish, there are various areas which we do not own where people walk their dogs."

The council is now planning to install seven more bins along popular dog walking routes, including open areas near residential areas.

The new sites include Boundary Close, Ermin Street, Oxford Road, Capital Close and Taylor Crescent.

Five of the bins will be installed very soon with the other two following when permission is granted from Swindon Council.

Each red bin costs £175 and can hold 40 litres of dog mess. They will be emptied once a week in winter and twice a week in summer.

Mr Blake stressed that if a bin was not available then owners should wrap up their dogs' mess and dispose of it with their domestic rubbish.