PEOPLE are being urged to report to Craven's dog warden any irresponsible dog owners who they spot failing to clean up after their animals.

Sutton villagers are being called on to be the eyes of the community and to note the time, date and location of any fouling and a description of the dog and its owner.

The appeal comes as villagers have noticed a sharp increase in the number of dog owners not cleaning up the mess after their pets.

Failing to shift the mess is a criminal offence leading to a £50 fixed penalty notice or a prosecution before a magistrate and a fine of up to £1,000.

A Sutton parish council spokesperson said dog fouling was the subject of more complaints than anything else but was an anti-social offence difficult to tackle.

"Few things irritate and upset people more than abandoned deposits. It is like playing dodgems on the footpaths in the village, particularly for children travelling to school.

"The signs are everywhere - the parent quickly steering their child to one side or wheeling their push chair on the nearest peace of grass, the gentleman wiping his shoe on the grass verge, dog bags left hanging on trees or under bushes.

"One advantage in spotting the culprits is that dog owners generally tended to take their dogs for routine walks along the same routes.

"Owners need be more responsible. It is not acceptable for dogs to foul in public places and leave it, nor is acceptable to collect their dog’s foul in a bag and leave it or throw into the adjoining fields.

"If you are a dog owner, you have a legal duty to clean up every time your dog messes in a public.

"We say to the minority of bad owners clean up after your dogs. Failing to do so is anti-social and can spread diseases.

Craven District Council provide FREE dog bags – paid by the parish. Many local shops stock them. Various locations throughout the village have been provided with bins.