A PARTNERSHIP has been formed in Burneside to tackle the dog fouling problem which has plagued the village.

The local PCSO, St Oswald's Primary School, Burneside residents, Burneside Residents Association, Burneside Parish Council and South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) are all behind the new initiative.

Frustrated by the number of disposed bags found across Burneside, the group has put up signs and posters urging dog owners to bin their waste properly.

SLDC are now planning to provide additional bins in the area, in an attempt to encourage more dog owners to dispose their bags in them.

The council say they have now stepped up patrols and are willing to issue fines to any rule-breaking owners.

This announcement has been welcomed by SLDC councillor Pat Bell and hopes that the measures significantly reduce the problem.

She said: "I have raised this problem with the council and their locality team has been fantastic in responding to it. They have been really cooperative and worked really well.

"It is a starting point and hopefully we will see less dog bags being littered around the area."

However, Pat says the problem is not just solely a Burneside matter, but across the district.

She believes certain dog owners do not want to carry their bags and wait for the nearest bin to dispose them.

The councillor said: "If you're out with a dog bag, throwing it at a hedge or over some bushes is not the answer. Keep it with you until there is a bin available.

"I think there are people who ignore the rules, simply don't care and will just throw their bags away."