A NEW ‘Take The Lead’ campaign has been launched to encourage responsible dog ownership.

Residents were able to get free dog chipping for their pets and given free dog bags to help keep their neighbourhood clean at an event hosted by Together Hou-sing Group.

The initiative, which is sup-ported by the RSPCA, the Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, Lancashire Police and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, was brought about after tenants on Shadsworth’s group’s anti-social behaviour scrutiny panel raised the issue of dog nuisance as a concern.

Youngsters could also meet the group’s mascot MONTE, whose name stands for Make Our Neigh-bourhoods Totally Excellent.

It comes after Blackburn with Darwen Council launched a crack-down on dog foul-ing, warning the offenders that their photographs will be posted on lamp posts.

Martin Jackson, Twin Valley Homes’ anti-social beh-aviour manager, said: “We know that dog-related nuisance is a problem on our estates so we’re tackling the problem head on.

“MONTE is our new mascot tasked with promoting responsible dog ownership and instilling good practices to make sure our communities are cleaner and safer places to live.

“The children love MONTE and we’re hoping to get the message across so that they grow up to become responsible dog owners in the future.”

Children from Shadsworth Junior School also met MONTE as they helped take part in a special clean-up on the estate, where residents were able to dispose of any unwanted items.