AN initiative to encourage dog owners to clean up after their pets has been announced in a Tees town.

Hartlepool Borough Council officials have re-launched their Spring Clean Hartlepool initiative which ran for several years with the aim of encouraging people to organise events to improve the environment.

This year the specific theme of the campaign is dog fouling and the idea is to encourage residents to report incidents of dogs being left unattended in back streets.

Kate Ainger, the Council’s Environmental Projects Officer, said: “Our enforcement officers have been putting up signs on the alley gates that protect many back streets to remind residents that these areas are not dog toilets and that people need to clean up after their dogs.

“We would also remind people that back streets are covered by a Dog on Lead dog control order which means that anyone turning loose their dog in a back street risks an £80 fixed penalty notice fine for breaching the dog control order and, potentially, another £80 penalty if the dog fouls and they do not clean it up.

“Technically, dogs roaming loose in back streets are also straying and they can be removed by the Council’s dog warden.”

Callers who wish to report problem dogs and fouling should call 01429-523333. Local businesses are also being asked to support the clampdown by displaying posters featuring the slogan: We’re Supporting Hartlepool Borough Council’s Pick Up or Pay Up campaign! Are you? A number of business have already pledged their support and others can download posters at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/dogs