IT'S probably true to say the majority of dog owners are now far more responsible than they were a few years ago.

They go out armed with plastic bags and scoops to ensure their pets don't leave their mark and pose serious dangers to the health of children and others.

This responsible approach has truly changed the face of many parks, paths and recreation grounds where in the past one eye had to be focused on the ground to avoid the risk of literally putting your foot in it.

But the message has apparently failed to get through to dog owners in one part of the Ribble Valley where environmental health officers have highlighted 96 incidents of dog fouling on a 100 metre path in just a week.

The path, which is used as a short cut to Longridge Primary School and the seriousness of the complaints being received is such that use of CCTV is even being considered to catch the culprits there and at a number of other black spots in Clitheroe, Whalley, Wilpshire and Mellor.

Costs of cleaning up the mess come to £1,000 a year alone around the path which does have a dog bin so that owners cannot have any excuses for letting their animals foul.

And for that reason alone offenders should be fined £50 first time and then taken to court where there should be no hesitation in levying available fines of up to £1,000.