THE manager of Darwen Rangers Junior Football Club has blasted "disgusting" pet owners who have left their fields covered in dog dirt.

Some 250 girls and boys aged between eight and 12 play matches for Darwen Rangers Football Club on the Sandy Lane pitches.

But club manager Bill Stemp, 58, said the dog dirt problem had got so bad that referees had been forced to stop games so it could be removed.

He said he was outraged at the dog owners who allowed their pets to foul the pitches, and added: "They shouldn't be allowed to have dogs."

Mr Stemp said: "It's not just Sandy Lane, it's all over parks in Darwen and it's disgusting. We shouldn't have to put up with it.

"When we first started using the pitches the problem was bad and we spent £500 on signs warning people to clean up after their dogs.

"It did get better, but now it's just as bad as before.

"Before matches I have to spend a lot of time going around with a shovel getting the mess up, but of course you always miss something.

"We play matches against junior teams from Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United at Sandy Lane and seeing this is really off-putting."

The land is privately owned by Trinity Church, in Sandy Lane, and also used by Darwen Cricket Club.

Not cleaning up after your dog is an offence under the Dogs Fouling of Land Act 1996 and offenders can be prosecuted by the local council.

Coun Salim Lorgat, executive member for housing and neighbourhoods, said: "The council employs three dog wardens who provide a seven day service.

"Dog owners have a responsibility to look after their own pets and make sure that they do not foul.

"If they do, they must clean it up immediately or they have committed an offence and can be prosecuted.

"Dog-fouling is not only unpleasant and anti-social but it can also have serious implications for health because it can transmit harmful diseases.

"The council provides free poop scoops to encourage people to clean up after their dogs."

Around 100 people a year are blinded resulting from toxocariasis, a parasite that lives in the intestines of dogs and cats.

Eggs from toxocara worms pass into stools, and if ingested, can attack the retina.

Infection can also cause headaches, fever, sore throats, aching limbs, abdominal pain, sleep disturbance, listlessness, pneumonia and asthma.