Spraying it pink - the latest scheme to tackle dog fouling

Volunteers are spraying dog mess with pink dye in an effort to shame owners who fail to clean up after their pets, a council said today.

Mansfield District Council also hopes the scheme will help walkers avoid stepping in excrement at one of its parks.

The project at Oak Tree Heath nature reserve in Nottinghamshire is being launched as part of National Poop Scoop week.

A community group that helps maintain the park will be given the pink spray to dye unwanted dog mess.

A spokesman for the authority said: "Hopefully if dog owners see pink dye everywhere they will think twice and clean up their dog's mess.

"We have fined a few people but we can't have enforcement officers there all the time. It's quite a popular beauty spot and it does attract a few dog walkers. The vast majority of owners clear up after their pets but some don't.

"It's also a way of letting people see it so they don't step in it."

The council said the dye was biodegradable. Councillor Eddie Smith, who is in charge of the environment at the council, said: "Although dog owners face a £50 fine for not picking up their animal's waste, as a district council we would much rather the environment was kept clear in the first place.

"If this scheme helps to combat the problem, it is appropriate that we should support it."

Oak Tree Heath is a site of Special Scientific Interest as it is home to a number of rare species.

The council says dog mess can have an adverse effect on the soil. Last year its officers issued 136 fines for illegal dog fouling.

As well as providing some residents with pink dye, the authority also issues 500,000 free bags every year for clearing up mess.