COMMUNITIES across Hyndburn have been issued with a 'use them or lose them' warning from council bosses over dog bins.

Council bosses claim that many of their 142 dog waste bins are not being used by people out exercising their pets.

And the council's cash-strapped situation means that it cannot afford to fund 72 extra bins which have been requested across the borough.

A review has now been launched of where the bins are located and which ones are being used - with the warning that any found to be unused will be removed and placed elsewhere.

Coun Brian Walmsley, cabinet member for leisure and culture at Hyndburn Council, said: "In an ideal world we would have bins where everyone wanted them but there is no point if they are not being used.

"Our bins are emptied once or twice a week and our operatives are finding that some of the bins are not being used.

"People are walking their dogs, letting them foul on the grass just a few yards from a bin and walking away.

"Our message now is: 'Use it or lose it', because there are lots of other areas where people think the bins could be put to very good use.

"The number of bins, 142, is the maximum we can empty each week.

"If we had any more, some bins would have to go unemptied or the other work they do, such as inspecting children's playgrounds, would have to be cancelled."

The council's stance comes just a week after it agreed to extend its bylaws to cover the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal running through the borough.

British Waterways will install dog bins along the canal and be responsible for emptying them.

Coun Anne Scaife, in charge of environmental cleansing at the council, said: "The bins are there but people aren't using them.

"We need to get the message across that finding the people who let their dogs foul is a top priority and people will be caught.

"We have officers out looking for these people."