OKEHAMPTON Town Council has urged people to pick up their dog waste as dog fouling continues to be an issue in Simmons Park and around the town.

The council's parks committee discussed the issue on Monday after receiving a letter of complaint from a Mr Crawford, and a separate e-mail complaint from a resident on Crediton Road.

Mr Crawford's letter discussed how some dog walkers have let their dogs foul on the park's playing fields, and spoke of how one youth rugby player fell into a pile of dog excrement left behind by an irresponsible owner. The youth rugby team using the pitches now carries jiffy bags and scoops to clear up mess found on the pitches.

The council has tried a number of different methods to crack down on the issue, having liaised with police and West Devon Borough Council about trying to start prosecuting dog owners who fail to clear up after their animals.

They have also tried new signage, a dog warden scheme, on the spot £60 fines, and a volunteer dog waste officer.

Parks committee chair Cllr Christine Marsh said: 'I don't know what the answer is to this, I really don't. In the park, there is not any more we can do. The college has even put signs on their playing fields, clearly pointing out these are playing fields and not for dogs to be exercised on, but still people do it.'

Park keeper David Whitfield sees first hand how the issue affects the park, and praised the majority of dog walkers.

'In the main, people are very good at picking up,' said Mr Whitfield.

'But at least once a week I see someone leaving behind dog mess. It is often done in the dark of early morning or at night. It is a very small percentage of people spoiling it for everyone.'

Dog owners are reminded to always carry plastic bags with them when walking their dog in town, and are asked to clear up their dog mess and dispose of it responsibly in one of the many dog bins and litter bins around the town.