TWO dog owners have been fined for breaking anti-fouling laws.

North Durham magistrates heard that an Easington District Council dog warden spotted a man walking his two dogs near the beach and failing to pick up the mess from one of his animals. The man, when challenged, refused to give his name, said Michael Bowery, prosecuting.

But he was traced from the registration of a car he was seen getting out of. The court heard he did not respond to a £50 fixed penalty ticket.

Kenneth Charlton, of Stewart Street, Easington Colliery, pleaded guilty by post to breaching Section Three of the 1996 Dog Fouling of Land Act, which requires owners to pick up faeces deposited on designated land.

He was fined £75 and ordered to pay £50 costs within 28 days.

Michael Mooney, of Allan Street, Easington Colliery, received the same penalty after the bench found him guilty of the same offence.

Mr Bowery said a Staffordshire bull terrier, one of two dogs that Mooney was seen walking, fouled grass at the back of Allan Street, but he did not pick it up.

He refused to give his name and address to wardens and walked off towards allotments, but the wardens waited and he returned to his house 20 minutes later. Moon-ey refused to answer the door to them, but they later returned with two policemen to give him a fixed penalty ticket, which he did not pay.

The bench heard that he did not respond to the court summons.