IRRESPONSIBLE dog owners who allow animals to foul graves were today warned they will be fined and may face court action if caught.

Rossendale animal warden David East is furious following complaints about Rawtenstall Cemetery.

He said: "How would they like to have someone stamping all over the grave of their loved one? It is not nice at all."

A petition bearing 34 names complaining about the action of dog owners in the area was presented to chairman of Rossendale Council's leisure committee Coun Lawrence Forshaw. The petition asks for dogs to be banned from all cemeteries.

Coun Forshaw said: "I will be presenting it before the next committee."

Mr East is warning owners he will not hesitate to fine and prosecute people who do not clean up after their dogs and already has done on hundreds of occasions.

Although he thinks it unlikely dogs will be banned from the cemeteries because there are public rights of way through Bacup and Rawtenstall Cemeteries, he said: "I want to have restrictions imposed such as keeping a dog on a short lead, keeping to the tarmac and not on the grass and the area is definitely not to be used specifically for exercising dogs.

"I have seen people drive into the cemetery, taken their dog out of a car and exercise them before putting them back in and driving off. This is not acceptable.

"Where I come from you would not think about taking a dog into a cemetery. When I have tackled people they will say their dog is only going in the rough ground, but that is the paupers' graves.

"There are dog bins in the cemetery but they are so that anyone tending a grave who brings their dog with them can clean up and dispose of any mess properly."

Mr East urged anyone who witnessed people misusing the cemeteries to contact him on 01706 244552.

He added: "I will issue on-the-spot fines of £50 for offenders and will take people to court if they don't pay.

"It is also an offence to not have an identity disc on a dog, even if it is microchipped.'