A major campaign will begin on Monday aimed at irresponsible dog owners who allow their pets to foul Bradford’s streets, parks and footpaths.

The Council has joined forces with charity Keep Britain Tidy in its nation-wide campaign to encourage people to clean up after their pets.

Adverts and posters will display the Bag it and Bin it message, to help the organisation in its aim to reduce the amount of dog dirt on the streets by 25 per cent.

There are eight million dogs in the UK, producing a million metric tonnes of faeces each year. Councils in West Yorkshire last year received a total of 4,697 complaints about dog fouling.

Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment and sustainability, said: “Having our streets, parks and canal towpaths caked in dog mess is disgusting. It looks unsightly, can make areas appear run down, is unpleasant for those who stand in it and is dangerous to our health.”

It is an offence to allow a dog to foul on any footpath, park, play area or grass verge without cleaning it up immediately. It is the responsibility of the dog owner or the person in charge of the dog to clear up any mess left by their animal – dog dirt can be put in any litter bin.

Offenders who are caught must pay a fixed penalty of £50 or a fine of up to £1,000 if the case goes to court.

Phil Barton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Dog fouling is the most offensive type of litter on our streets and is constantly rated as one of the most important issues blighting their local area by the public.”

l At a meeting last Wednesday, Bradford councillors voted in favour of adopting a Dog Control Order, which would extend powers to serve fixed penalty notices for dog fouling and increase the fine to £80. It covers areas of land previously exempt, including moorland such as Ilkley, Baildon and Haworth moors, heathland, common land and woodland.