DORCHESTER councillors have cried foul over dog owners who let their pets poop in public places.

Coun Louise Taylor told a meeting of the town council's planning and environment committee that she was becoming increasingly concerned about people who let their pets foul the pavements.

"The situation is getting worse and it's disgusting.

"There are some parts of the town that I walk everyday and in some places you have to tiptoe through the dog mess.

"The vast majority of dog owners do clear up after their pets, but a small minority don't and I think it's time that someone was made an example of. Only then will we get the message across that people should clear up after their pets."

Coun Andy Canning said the council needed to find out if the district council has a policy for dealing with people who let their dogs foul.

Coun Fiona Kent-Ledger said: "We should be demanding a campaign to get people to shop anyone who they see letting their pet's foul.

"I think other dog walkers who are responsible would be quite happy to tell on others who aren't.

"We need to name and shame them."

Members of the committee agreed to write to the district council to ask what its policy is on dog fouling. They also called on the district council to clean the areas affected by dog mess.

The district council's senior dog warden Sue Gibson said: "Anyone who is in charge of a dog which defecates in a public place is liable to a £50 on-the-spot fine or the maximum penalty could be £1,000 if you are summoned to court for the offence."

She added that town and parish councils have volunteers on their books who have the authorisation to issue fixed penalty fines.