A PARISH council is so fed-up with the problem of dog fouling in a village that it is considering hiring special caretaker-wardens.

The wardens would hand out on the spot fines to owners who fail to clean up after their dogs in Ingelby Barwick - as well as keeping an eye on vandalism and litter.

The bill for employing two wardens working shifts on Europe's biggest housing estate could be as high as £70,000.

Mike Jones, chairman of Ingleby Barwick Parish Council, said: "It is a problem in places, absolutely atrocious in some. There are a lot of dogs and there are a lot of people who could not care less.

"I know of instances where people do pick it up but they don't take it home or put it in bins. As soon as they get to an area where they are not seen, they throw it down and because it is in plastic bags its does not go away.

"There are a lot of dogs and lots of little grassy places."

He added: "We are looking at different schemes. We are going to look at Sedgefield, we have looked at Stockton fairly closely. We want to look at Redcar and Cleveland Council. We are trying to find out what other areas are doing. There are lots of things to be considered."

District councillor Jennie (COR) Beaumont said: "It is quite disappointing that this may be found to be necessary. It is a few spoiling it for the rest.

"If people don't take notice they are going to get fined for it but it is still a lot of money which could be spent on cleaning up after people, when people don't put their litter in a bin or allow dog fouling on the paths or open grassed areas - money which could be spent elsewhere."

There is a bigger ratio of children at Ingleby Barwick than in the population of nearby Yarm.

Coun Mrs Beaumont added: "One of the things we are looking at is youth anti social behaviour. We could spend that money on a youth club, somewhere these young people could go."