PEOPLE are being urged to inform on dog walkers who fail to clear up after their animals in public places.

The call follows anger at the amount of dog dirt which is being left on paths in the Haughton area of Darlington, particularly on the banks of the River Skerne.

Darlington Borough Council said it was aware of the problem and was taking action over it.

Haughton ward borough councillor Chris McEwan believes £25 fines adopted in Darlington four years ago should be imposed.

Local resident Tony Botterill believes the council should put extra dog dirt bins in the area.

Mr Botterill, of Wellbeck Avenue, said he could not understand why there was only one bin on the stretch between the bridges at McMullen Road and Stockton Road, while other areas of town were provided with many.

"There will be, at a conservative estimate, 40 bags of dog fouling, wrapped up and thrown into the trees - that is apart from the dog fouling that they have not bothered picking up," he said.

"People go down there with the kids and it is absolutely smothered with dog muck."

Coun McEwan said: "Clearly, certain dog owners are not taking the responsibility seriously."

He said that he did not have a problem with dogs in general, but owners should be responsible and members of the public should play their part, informing the council of any offenders.

"We need to be taking firm action against them," he said.

"We need to recognise that we can't have dog wardens on every corner and people need to take their responsibilities more seriously."

He said that he was pressing for another disposal bin to be installed in the area, but conceded: "At the end of the day, that is not really the answer."

A spokesman for Darlington council said: "A couple of people have complained in this area and we are monitoring the area now.

"We are putting extra patrols in that area, and we are also going to put up signs."