BLACKPOOL council has taken the lead with an anti-mess message for dog owners, inspired by an 11 year old boy.

K9 Awareness Day took place on Tuesday (April 11) in Claremont Park in a bid to make irresponsible dog owners clean up after their pets, as well as to educate people about the animals.

Vaughan Olley, 11, from Claremont Primary School, wrote to Craig Matthews, the council's executive member for community services, earlier this year asking for help in hounding the dog owners who left their pets' mess in his local park.

Two new dog-waste bins and three warning signs were put up soon afterwards and now the special doggy day has been organised.

Vaughan, pictured here with Craig Matthews, said he decided to write to the council after a friend of the family had been blinded by a disease caught from dog dirt.

"I'm really happy that the council have done this after I wrote a letter," he added. The council also organised a poster competition, won by ten-year-old Chris Topping for his range of designs bearing the slogan "Don't leave it, clean it!"

On the day, 180 pupils from Vaughan's school took part in a detailed survey of the area, recording how much dog mess was on the park.

The results of this survey will help the council to decide how many new doggy bins to install and where to install them

The Guide Dogs for the Blind organisation were also at the park on Tuesday organising a blindfold obstacle course which children could be taken round by a guide dog.

As well as the dog warden, and experts from Blackpool Zoo offering advice on keeping dogs as pets, the council's cleansing section showed the crowd how they tackle the problem of dog dirt on the streets.

Richard Nulty, community services director, praised the pupils of Claremont school saying that the campaign was the brainchild of the children. "They are an example to everyone," he said "These youngsters have been the spur for a major town wide campaign to encourage more responsible pet ownership.

"They have taken the lead in wanting to learn more about caring for dogs as well as urging owners to clean up after their dogs to make parks, playgrounds and paths more attractive for everyone."