LITTER and dog mess is plaguing a Darwen beauty spot, a community group has said.

The Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood members said they are getting 'frustrated' with dog walkers who are throwing dog poop bags in bushes, hanging it on trees and leaving it on paths.

While the car park close to The Sunnyhurst pub, has been blighted with litter.

Annette Sultana, secretary of The Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood, said despite several clean ups the area is still a mess.

She called for dog walkers and visitors to start taking more responsibility.

Mrs Sultana said: "I was walking my son's dog the other day and it isn't just one or two instances of people leaving dog mess, it is absolutely everywhere.

"It's in trees, it's in bushes, it's by the road and on the paths and it just looks awful.

"I went on holiday to Cornwall the other week and saw lots of people with dogs, but absolutely no mess.

"It really gets me why people pick it up on holiday and not in their own town.

"Also, we only cleaned the car park up a few weeks ago and it's as bad as ever.

"People are leaving things within a few yards of a litter bin.

"Come on walkers, pick it up and bin it or take it home and stop leaving it for others to clean up."

The problem with litter and dog mess comes after the woods experienced a major landslide last month which could take at least six months to fix.

The Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods regularly organise clean-ups and are always looking for new volunteers.

Brenda Cronshaw, former town councillor and vice chairman of the friends group, said: "I really think that dog walkers do need to be taking responsibility and people need to pick up after themselves, but I think we also need people to come along and help us out.

"We have a clean up on this Saturday where we will be tidying up the garden by the visitors centre and we desperately need more people.

"Instead of moaning about this litter and mess and watching it happen we need people to come and help us."

Cllr Brian Taylor, representative for Sunnyhurst ward, said that dog owners could be fined £1,000 by the borough council if they fail to clean up after their pets.

He said: "In Germany, if you have a dog you are checked to see if you have bags with you so they know you will pick it up.

"Perhaps it's time we started doing something like that in Darwen, these people should be named and shamed, it's totally irresponsible."