A WINDERMERE vets has joint up with the town's council in order to clean up the streets from unwanted dog mess.

Oakhill Veterinary Group and Windermere Town Council are working together to place dog poo bag dispensers at 10 different locations.

The spots are on routes commonly used by dog walkers in Bowness and Windermere, such as the entrance to Goodley Dale and Sherrif’s Wood. Dispensers will be checked regularly to ensure that they are fully stocked.

Alex Kirby, a partner at the vets, came up with the idea two years ago after a holiday in the Alps.

"I pinched the idea from a trip two years ago," he explained. "We went to a place called Val-d'Isère in the Alps and all around the village there were all of these poo bag dispensers.

"There was not a bit of dog poo at all. Everything was just pristine and we thought well that's a fantastic idea!"

He suggested the idea to Sarah Blacow, a police community support officer who was keen to get the town council involved. The council liked the idea and offered to split the costs.

"I think it's a problem everywhere, not just in Windermere," Mr Kirby said, talking about the amount of dog mess on the streets. "I think it's all over the country.

"It's mainly convenience. People sometimes have the best intentions but they have not taken bags out or enough bags or there are not places to put them."

The dispensers will go up on August 1 and Mr Kirby said that if they prove to be successful he will talk to Ambleside's council about expanding the scheme.

"The less poo and litter there is about the more people are aware of not dropping litter or picking up dog poo," he said. "It's a self-fulfilling thing."