A COASTAL town council has successfully prosecuted dog owners this week over nuisance offences.

Offences ranging from keeping a dangerous dog, failure to keep a dog on a lead in areas covered by by-laws and dog fouling have been dealt with by Scarborough Borough Council, North Yorkshire.

A total of 18 cases were taken to Scarborough Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and penalties from dog control orders to fines and conditional discharges were handed out.

The council's head of environmental health, Andy Skelton, said the nuisance caused by inconsiderate dog owners would not be tolerated. He said: "The penalties and costs imposed send out a clear message that the Council will and does prosecute people over a variety of dog-related offences.

"The majority of dog owners exercise their pets where they are allowed to, keep them on leads and clean up after them.

"Our actions targets those who don't and whose actions have an impact on the lives of those who live in or visit the borough."

Anyone with information about persistent offenders can call 0800 0830492.