ANTI-SOCIAL dog owners who do not clean up after their pet are being tackled by a new campaign.

Copeland mayor Mike Starkie is leading a crack down on dog-fouling, with irresponsible owners facing fines of up to £1,000.

The council is emphasising that leaving your dog's mess lying around is illegal and cleaning it up is your responsibility.

"The majority of dog owners in Copeland do behave responsibly, by both caring for pets and fulfilling their legal and moral obligations," said the mayor.

"However, the same cannot be said of a small minority of owners whose behaviour is at best irresponsible and at worst, antisocial and in some instances, risks the health of our children."

To support its campaign the council has enlisted the help of local schoolchildren, who have designed posters encouraging dog owners to clean up.

Mr Starkie said: "Copeland continuously experiences difficulty around the concerns of dog fouling. I would like to thank all the schools for getting involved in this campaign and working with the council to promote responsible dog-ownership."

Keisha Pettigrew, 11, from Thornhill Primary School, was selected as the competition winner for her hard-hitting poster.

It will be blown up and printed on a council refuse vehicle to promote the campaign. She received an art pack and an annual pass to The Beacon Museum.

"It was a tough decision to choose an overall winner as all entries were excellent. It has been brilliant to see every child engaged and clearly concerned about this important issue," said Mr Starkie.

"Keisha's poster cleverly highlights the key messages about dog fouling. It was carefully thought out and presented beautifully"

And her teacher, Ruth Collie, said: "Following the work with Copeland Council, the children are now more aware of the importance of ‘picking up the poop, and binning the bag’, and the benefits this has on the environment.

"We are absolutely delighted that Keisha has won the competition. We are looking forward to seeing her poster being used to help promote the campaign."

Copeland has over 600 litter bins for owners to use to dispose of their dog's mess.

If there isn't a bin available the council advises that the waste should be taken home and binned.

Mr Starkie said: "I hope this campaign makes a positive impact on residents, helps to reduce the amount of dog fouling in Copeland and assists in keeping our borough clean and tidy all year round."

For more information or to report a dog walker who fails to pick up after their pet, visit www.copeland.gov.uk/content/dog-fouling or call 01946 598300.