DOG walkers who leave their pet's mess beside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal face fines of up to £1,000, it emerged today.

British Waterways has begun working with local authorities to extend its bylaws, which currently cover streets, to also take in tow paths that run through Chorley, Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle.

Hyndburn Council has become the first authority to sign up to the move - and councillors have warned they will have no hesitation in prosecuting people who fail to clean up.

Coun Anne Scaife, cabinet member for the environment and cleansing at Hyndburn, said: "There are parts of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal that are just like big dog toilets.

"I take my dog for a three-mile walk on the canal every day and it does two poos, which I clean up and put in a dog bin. It is wrong to say that dog owners who let their dogs poo on the towpaths are irresponsible owners because they aren't. They are out giving their dogs exercise.

"But we can't have a situation where people find themselves missing the scenery as they walk along the canal because they are constantly looking down at the floor in the same way you would in a minefield."

Hyndburn's dog warden, along with community wardens and the police, will have the power to fine people £50 on the spot.

If they fail to pay up, they will be taken to court where the maximum fine is £1,000 - the same as if their dog fouled any highway in Hyndburn.

Coun Tim O'Kane, Labour councillor for Clayton-le-Moors, said: "I welcome this because I can remember when, in 1998, an angling magazine asked a fishing champion where the best place was to fish. He said Kent.

"When asked for the worst place, he said Clayton-le-Moors because of the amount of dog muck. It was embarrassing."

A spokesman for British Waterways said: "We are trying to work with all councils along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to get bylaws extended.

"We have worked with Hyndburn, are working with Pendle and waiting for a response from Blackburn with Darwen and Burnley at the moment.

"We are trying to attract more people to use the canals and need people to make sure they clean up after their dogs."