A COMMUNITY group is trying to raise awareness around dog fouling.

The Friends of Darwen Cemetery are trying to combat dog fouling in Darwen Western Cemetery and have put signs up to remind dog owners to clean up around graves and cemetery paths.

Working with Blackburn with Darwen Council, the group has renovated and restored hundreds of graves and carried out various repairs and conservation projects.

They are now asking dog owners to put dog poo in biodegradable bags and use the many bins around the cemetery.

Dog owners can be fined for not picking up dog mess and not keeping dogs on a lead.

Chairman John East said “We welcome responsible dog owners and their pooches but just ask they they respect the grave areas and the work done to restore the cemetery.

"The Blackburn with Darwen dog fouling team do monitor the cemetery and local parks and dog owners can receive on the spot fines.

"On the whole dog owners enjoy that stroll around the century and appreciate the work being completed and conform to the local bylaws, it's just the odd few who don't.”