NEW orders requiring Ribble Valley dog owners to clean up after their pets and keep them under control come into force today.

Those who ignore the new rules face fines of up to £1,000 or fixed penalty notices of £80 for anti-social pet behaviour.

Borough enforcement officers will be out and about over the coming months.

Five orders, approved in January, follow persistent problems dog dirt.

They require owners to remove dog faeces from public land, including footpaths and fields; keep their dogs on leads when instructed to do so by an officer; and prohibit dogs from sports pitches, playing fields and children’s playgrounds.

Dogs must also be kept on a lead in Clitheroe Cemetery and no more than four walked in public at any one time. Signs will be installed over coming weeks.

Borough environmental boss James Russell, said: “Residents are demanding action.”