DOG owners have been warned not to throw bags of their pets’ mess over a Ribble Valley church’s wall or they will be reported to the police.

A recent clear-up at St Leonard’s CE Church in Langho found around 20 bags behind the wall which is shared with the local primary school.

Billington resident Ged Mirfin, who attends the church, said that new bags are found every day and that the problem has been going on for ‘some time’.

Dog wardens from Ribble Valley Borough Council have been asked to patrol the area in a bid to deter the bags from being thrown.

Children have designed a poster asking for the bags not to be dropped on the site and have placed it on the gates of St Leonard’s CE Primary School. Rev Andrew Malcolm from the church has said that he ‘would have no hesitation’ in reporting anyone who is seen throwing the bags to the police.

Coun Mirfin, who is a borough councillor, said: “We have a problem for a whole of people throwing the bags over the church’s wall.

“We recently cleared them all up and there were around 20 bags there. It’s distasteful and also a health hazard to church-goers and the pupils at the school.

“It’s very uncivil and I would call on people to stop doing it.

“Anyone who witnesses it happening should contact the council’s dog wardens.”

Rev Malcolm said: “It’s disgusting and it’s unbelievable that people would do this at a church which is so close to a primary school.

“It’s been going on for about four months but it died away for a while but has increased recently.

“People have told me that bags are also thrown into hedges further down the road to St Augustine’s RC High School in Billington.

“It needs to stop because it’s very unsavoury and a health hazard to everyone.”