A COUNCILLOR is calling for residents in a village to report dog walkers who break the law.

Malvern Hills independent councillor Daniel Walton, whose ward includes Rushwick village, where mess has been found, has received numerous complaints from residents on the issue.

Cllr Walton said: There has been an increasing number of complaints about dog poo in Rushwick.

“It’s hard to believe that anyone wouldn’t clean up after their dog but it seems to be happening more and more.

“I’ve arranged for signs to go up around the village.

“If you see people not picking up please report them and if there is anywhere else you think needs signs like these please let me know.”

Dominic Tunnell of Dominic Tunnell Opticians in Mealcheapen Street, Worcester, said: “The risk is to unborn babies as faeces can contain parasites leading to a condition called toxoplasmosis.

“It can be passed on from mothers who pick up the infection without washing their hands.

“It can lead to sight loss by scarring the retina of the unborn baby.

"Healthy adults and children would not be affected."

A spokeswoman for Rushwick Pre-School, said: "Any dog waste should be picked up as we don't want any of our children picking it up.

"It's not nice for anyone having to see that all over the village."

The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, with the purpose of making it a criminal offence if a dog defecates at any time on designated land and a person who is in charge of the dog at that time fails to remove the faeces from the land straight away.

Failure to so, can lead to an on-the-spot fine or even court action, where up to a £1000 fine can be imposed.

There are exemptions, including land next to a major road and forestry land.