DOG wardens in Ribble Valley have stepped up their battle against dog fouling.

They have started nabbing people who allow their pet to mess in public and issuing them with £50 fines.

Ribble Valley Borough Council launched a zero-tolerance campaign against dog fouling earlier this year after Willows Park Lane in Longridge was dubbed the dirtiest footpath in Lancashire.

Dog warden Adele Scott, who formerly worked for the prison service, has been out and about catching the dog fouling culprits and this week starting issuing fines.

She said: "People are shocked when they discover they have been caught allowing their pets to foul in public, but the days of irresponsible pet ownership are over. This council is committed to catching the culprits and fining them accordingly."

Willows Park Lane was dubbed the most dog-fouled footpath in Lancashire after 97 incidents of dog fouling at the hotspot in under a week.

There has been a 30 per cent increase in complaints about dog fouling in Ribble Valley streets and cleaning Willows Park Lane costs taxpayers £1,000 a year.

Adele added: "The council is committed to protecting and enhancing the Ribble Valley environment and determined to tackle the problem of dog fouling in public."

The Dog Fouling of Land Act 1996 requires dog owners to pick up their pet's mess, with fines of £50 if they don't and up to £1,000 if they are taken to court.

The government also announced this week that community police support officers and council wardens are to be given more powers to nab dog owners whose pets foul in public.

A Keep Britain Tidy study claimed dog fouling was costing councils £22million a year to clean up.

Other dog fouling hot-spots in Ribble Valley are:

Clitheroe: Chester Avenue, Faraday Avenue, Standen Road, Woone Lane and Taylor Street

Whalley: The Arches

Longridge: Mardale Play area

Mellor

Wilpshire.

If you want to report dog fouling contact the Ribble Valley Borough Council dog warden service on 01200 414464.