LOCALS are hunting clues to unravel the mystery of who is the culprit painting dog dirt yellow on the streets of a rural market town.

Residents in Thirsk are looking into what could be viewed as a shaggy dog story were it not for the brightly painted evidence.

Two pieces of dog dirt have been painted in recent weeks in one of the alleys leading from Thirsk Market Place.

The puzzling mystery was brought up by Thirsk Town Council who is keen to get to the bottom of it.

Councillor Amanda Pagram said: "I saw the dirt along the alleyway leading between Timpsons and the Cancer Research shop.

"Then I went back along and someone had painted it yellow. It seems strange and although the dirt will dissolve the yellow paint will stay there."

No other areas of the town have reported such strange phenomena and the council is curious as to why these two bits were targeted.

North Yorkshire Police has denied any involvement and Hambleton District Council is looking into whether it is involved.