DOG owners who let their pets foul pavements and parks are to be publicly ‘named and shamed’ in a new crackdown.

If convicted those caught dog fouling will have their face plastered on posters put up on lamp posts in their area.

Residents have been asked to become the ‘eyes and ears’ of Blackburn with Darwen Council by reporting culprits and taking photographs of them and their animals.

The move is thought to be the first of its kind in the country.

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Kate Hollern said the authority was taking a zero tolerance approach to irresponsible owners who fail to clean up their pets’ mess.

She said: “We will name and shame those who continue to dog foul their communities and plaster their pictures all over the neighbourhood for people to see.

“Enough is enough – dog fouling is not only disgusting and anti social, it also poses a serious health threat.

“People have told us they want further action so that is what we are doing.”

The pilot initiative is being run in the Roe Lee area of the town as part of the council’s ‘Your Call’ campaign, which aims to encourage people to take responsibility for the area where they live.

A clean up will first be organised to rid the area of any existing dog mess and then the new approach put into place.

Roe Lee Councillor Phil Riley, who has been spearheading action in his ward, said: “We have to try new ways to tackle this anti social problem and we are looking forward to sharing our experiences with the rest of the borough.

“We have a number of enthusiastic voluntary groups in Roe Lee, making it an ideal area to try out this new initiative.”

Dog fouling is not only unpleasant but extremely dangerous.

The biggest threat to health from dog excrement is toxocariasis, an infection of the roundworm toxocara canis.

Dr Tom Smith, the Lancashire Telegraph’s health expert, said: “The infection can make people go blind permanently.

“That’s why we don’t want dog dirt around us – you can also get lots of other bacterial infections.”

It is the responsibility of the dog owner or the person in charge of the dog to clear up any dog foul left by their dog.

If you fail to clean up after your dog you can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice, or if the case goes to court a fine of up to £1,000.

The regulations state specifically, that being unaware that the dog has fouled, or not having a suitable means of removing the faeces is not a reasonable excuse for failing to clean up after your dog.

The environmental charity and anti-litter campaign Keep Britain Tidy, which also tackles dog fouling, welcomed the move.

Charity spokesman Natalie Forrester said: “Dog fouling is the most offensive type of litter on our streets and it is consistently raised in Keep Britain Tidy surveys as a public concern.

“Reflecting the public's desire for action to tackle the problem, Blackburn with Darwen Council is clearly taking a strong line on the issue and sending a powerful message that dog fouling will not be tolerated in their area.”

However, The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs, said the council would be better holding dog owner education days with its help and providing more dog dirt bags and bins.

A spokesman said: “I think it’s quite sad that it has come to the point where people feel the need to publicly name and shame others to get them to pick up after their dogs.”

Other councils in East Lancashire have previously adopted a similar tough stance against dog fouling.

Hyndburn Council has launched initiatives such as undercover dog wardens using night-vision goggles, a campaign for councils to gain powers to raise instant dog fouling fines to £1,000, becoming the first council to ban dogs without leads from cemeteries and piloting a special street sweeper nicknamed the ‘Super Dooper Pooper Scooper’.