A PUBLIC health alarm has been raised over irresponsible dog walkers who are dumping bags of animal droppings into an East Lancashire drinking-water reservoir.

Dogs are already banned from a footpath running alongside Clowbridge Reservoir, near the Burnley and Rossendale border, after a number of complaints were raised regarding fouling.

But now parish councillors in rural Dunnockshaw have spotted pet owners depositing faecal matter into the waters.

Cllr Margaret Brindle, speaking at a Burnley full council meeting, said: "This is a drinking-water reservoir. If we could consider the health implications of this then I would be grateful."

Cllr Mathew Isherwood added: "I go up to the reservoir quite often and there is only one dog bin. Quite often that bin is overflowing and it is disgusting."

Parish councillors in Briercliffe, as reported last year, had particular success with a campaign which saw dog fouling incidents highlighted by the use of fluorescent sprays.

"What we found in Briercliffe is that when we used it, we saw the problem reduced by between 50 and 90 per cent reduction in dog fouling," said Cllr Margaret Lishman, who represents the village.

An extra 100 dog bins have been pledged as part of a new crackdown on fouling across the borough but it has emerged that only one member of staff is responsible for emptying the borough's entire stock.

Cllr Tony Harrison said that the new bins contract would begin on June 1 and he was sure that staff would work hard to tackle the problem, which had also been reported along a number of public paths such as Padiham Greenway.

"The likes of the greenway may not necessarily get dog bins but people can also use ordinary bins," he added.

A United Utilities spokesman said that six years ago the reservoir circuit path was placed out of bounds for dog walkers - but a number had continued to flout the ban.

He added: "Unfortunately we do have some persistent dog walkers that still continue to use the circuit path despite the many signs on each access gate."

"Dogs can still go on the wider estate but we would urge owners to clean up after their dogs.

"The area is patrolled by our countryside ranger but we would also be happy for Burnley Council to carry out a campaign to encouraging responsible dog ownership."