A DOG warden is using state of the art technology to catch people who let their pets foul-- at night time.

Hyndburn Borough Council dog warden Steve Wood is using a special night-vision camera to turn night into day when he is out on patrol.

The camera, which looks like a hi-tech telescope, will help him to keep an eye out for any dog owners letting their pets foul, and not cleaning up afterwards.

Steve said: "If I was doing an observation in a park, 99 per cent of people would pick up their dog's mess. But in the winter it's different.

"People don't think we watch, so some people don't pick up."

The 50-year-old can then use regular procedure to issue an on-the-spot fine.

Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, the immediate non-removal of dog fouling from designated areas is a direct offence.

This is not the first time a local council has used modern methods to catch dog owners breaking the rules.

Back in July, Ribble Valley Borough Council introduced a special mobile CCTV camera to catch dirty dogs being allowed to foul the green borough.

The surveillance equipment was believed to be the first of its kind to be especially made for monitoring the actions of dog foulers.