A council has put in place an action plan to tackle dog-foulers after they revealed they spend £30,000 a year on dealing with dog dirt.

Dog wardens will be sweeping Clitheroe, Longridge, Read and Simonstone, Sabden, Waddington and Whalley, in a bid to catch the culprits who are blighting the borough with dog dirt.

They will be particularly zoning in on several Clitheroe dog-fouling hotspots, including Brungerley Park, Clitheroe Cemetery, Henthorn, Edisford and Salthill.

Fines of £100 will be issued to those who fail to pick up after their pets, and persistent offenders could be faced with fines of over £1000.

Heather Barton, the council’s head of environmental health, said: “Dog-fouling is the subject of constant complaints from residents and we are committed to taking action.

“Dog warden patrols have been stepped up in six action zones and fixed penalty notices will be issued to those who let their dogs foul in public.

“We urge residents to be our eyes and ears and help us tackle this problem by reporting irresponsible dog owners.”