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Piles of dog mess have been spray-painted bright green by a Dorset council to try to shock owners into picking up their pets' waste.

Poole council took the action after about 200 piles of mess were found in an alley near Poole High School.

Workers are still cleaning mess on the paths but any piles on the grass verges in the area will be painted and, if not removed, cleared up after a week.

Opposition councillor Brian Clements said it was a "bizarre thing to do".

The Liberal Democrat added: "My first sense would be to catch the people who let their dogs foul and take action against them.

"These council workers should be spending the time finding these people not painting piles of dog poo, it is a very bizarre thing to do.

"I think the people that are leaving the mess will be amused by these piles of bright green mess rather than put off by them."

The Conservative-controlled council said it hoped the paint would show the scale of the problem to dog owners.

Environmental officers will also be visiting the area to advise people to clean up after their animals.

Shaun Robson, head of environmental services, said: "Dog fouling is a real concern for residents of Poole.

"Unfortunately we have a small minority that don't seem to get the message.

£50 fine

"We hope the paint will help highlight the size of the problem and change people's behaviour.

"We do our best to catch people but it is very difficult and we have to think of new ways, like this idea."

It has not been decided how long the trial will run for. It began on Wednesday after the discovery of the mess.

People who do not clean up after their dog can be given a £50 fine.

If they refuse to pay, they can be prosecuted and may face a court appearance with a maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine.