Dog owners face £50 fine for mess

Litter droppers and dog owners who fail to clear up after their pets in a part of Dorset will face a £50 fine, as a six-month campaign gets under way.

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council has joined forces with Dorset Police to tackle the problem.

On Monday, council officers and Police Community Support Officers began patrolling "hotspots" in the borough.

"A zero tolerance approach is required to address this inconsiderate behaviour," a council spokesman said.

"Under certain circumstances, offenders will be allowed to attend a litter pick and if they complete it successfully their fine will be returned," the spokesman added.

Councillor Tim Munro, Weymouth & Portland's brief holder for community safety, said: "We know from the volume of complaints we receive and from communicating with local community groups that although littering and dog fouling are seen as minor offences they really do get people riled.

"We will not hesitate to take more formal action through the courts for non payment or repeat offences."