Park's dog ban comes into force

Dog owners who flout new control orders banning their pets from a park and beaches face a £75 fine.

From Saturday, dogs will be banned from Hamworthy Park playground at all times.

Between 1 May to 30 September they must be on a lead on the promenade between Western End promenade, Sandbanks and the border with Bournemouth, Dorset.

Dogs are also banned from beaches between the Western End promenade and Branksome Chine Beach during that period, said the Borough of Poole.

The move comes after West Dorset District Council announced it wanted to bring in new dog control orders in February but a public consultation later showed residents did not appear to be in favour of such a move.

Clive Smith, head of the Borough of Poole's leisure services, said: "The dog control orders are intended to achieve the right balance of freedom for dog owners and appropriate controls for dogs and dog fouling."