PILES of dog mess found on a north Norfolk beach and promenade have horrified volunteers tackling clean-up sessions.Owners who let pets foul the beach and promenade at Sheringham have been criticised by local councillor Hilary Nelson.

PILES of dog mess found on a north Norfolk beach and promenade have horrified volunteers tackling clean-up sessions.

Owners who let pets foul the beach and promenade at Sheringham have been criticised by local councillor Hilary Nelson.

And they have been warned by officials that they are breaking new dog control orders now in force across the whole of North Norfolk.

Mrs Nelson, a district councillor who regularly leads beach clean sessions on behalf of Sheringham in Bloom, said volunteers were horrified at the amount of dog faeces found among the stones.

“While we all know dogs love the seaside too, it is really irresponsible to allow them to foul the beach and promenade. It is a truly depressing problem and a potentially dangerous one, as we all know infectious diseases can be carried in dog faeces,”

she added.

North Norfolk District Council's environmental protection team leader Mark Whitmore said they were actively targeting the problem of dog fouling this year “in an attempt to have a positive effect on those dog owners who continue to fail to clear up after their dogs.”

A new Dog Control Order had been introduced, making it an offence to fail to clear up after your dog anywhere in the district that was open to the air on at least one side and to which the public had access.

To help enforce the order, the council was working with the Sheringham Safer Neighbourhoods Team to deliver a campaign on dog fouling, which was likely to start in the Easter holidays, with a fun day followed by joint patrols and rigorous enforcement by the council and police.

Mrs Nelson called for more signs, but Mr Whitmore said it was hoped an education campaign with positive media attention would drive the message home in a way signs cannot.