North West Leicestershire District Council responded to a Moira-based football club's recent plea to stop dog walkers leaving their pets' mess on the pitch.

Last month, Marlborough Rovers chairman Rich Waldrum revealed that a match had to be stopped six times so that waste could be cleared away.

He said that dog owners needed to know that it is not acceptable to allow this to happen and commented: "Can I please make a plea to the people of Moira and neighbouring villages - and I know it is a minority - to please, please don't let your dog/s foul on the marked out football pitches at Measham Road Rec now the Colin Wood Memorial Fields.

"If they do they can't read signs or understand line markings, please clean it up. There are two bins one at each of the exits to the grounds and they are emptied weekly."

Since then, NWLDC has used a CCTV van in an attempt to stamp out the practice.

And it pointed out that there is a fixed penalty of £100 for anyone caught allowing their dogs to foul the area - with the further possibility of a £1,000 fine.

A council spokesperson said: "Our Environmental Protection Team has deployed the CCTV van to Colin Wood Memorial Park, Moira following reports of dog fouling on the football pitches.

"Remember, Our Public Space Protection Order prohibits dog fouling and dogs on designated sports pitches.

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"Anyone caught may face a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice, with fines up to £1,000 for breaches.

Let's keep our community clean! Love Your Neighbourhood."