DOG owners in Hartlepool are being told they now have no excuse for failing to clear up the mess left by their pets.

The message was issued as two more dog-dirt bins were installed in the south of the town.

Funded through Hartlepool Borough Council's dog fouling budget, the bins, which cost £60 each, are at the recreation ground in Greatham village, and at Sappers Corner, near the South Fens estate.

The plans for the bins and their proposed sites were discussed at a meeting of the council's South Neighbourhood Consultative Forum in response to complaints from Councillor Maureen Goosey.

Coun Goosey said: "The recreation ground is used widely by local children.

"We have no objections to people exercising their dogs there, but all we want is for them to be responsible and clean up after their pets.

"I would like to thank those dog owners who do clear up after their pets. The existing dog-dirt bins in the area are well used and, hopefully, these new bins will encourage other owners to act in the same responsible way.

"Generally, I want to stress that all of our grassed areas are there for the whole community to enjoy and I would ask dog owners to respect that."