CHILDREN in Hyndburn have been warned dog muck can cause blindness through a new campaign.

Schools will receive a visit from the council's dog warden, who will teach them about the horrendous effects a dog-borne parasite called Toxicara can have on youngsters.

The pets can potentially carry the harmful parasite, which can contaminate ground and easily spread onto hands. The side effects of Toxicara can, in extreme cases, cause years of illness and even blindness.

Dog warden Steve Wood will drop into Hyndburn schools over the next six months to encourage children to sign up to a 'pledge' to stay safe around dogs.

He said: "If you're told it could save your life and you remember, then it stays with you for the rest of your life. We try and make it memorable for the children.

"I would like to go maybe every two years so we get the new year groups and keep the message going so there is never a child walking around that doesn't know of the dangers."

Steve, who will run the scheme with the Police And Community Together (PACT), will start at St Peter and St Paul's School, Rishton, on Friday, followed by Rishton Methodists on November 22.

The pledge features tips on how to treat dogs but the main aim of the visit will be to teach children to wash their hands after playing with dogs, to reduce the risks from Toxicara. Every year 100 people suffer eye damage or blindness from the worm.

Today the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust praised the scheme. A spokesman said: "The CPT welcomes this initiative and recognises the dangers of Toxicara."

Mr Wood said: "It's very rare you will ever meet someone who has suffered from Toxicara but those you do meet you will remember for the rest of your life."