PET owners could face a £1,000 fine as a council cracks down on dog fouling.

In a bid to clean up the streets in its area, Wear Valley District Council has announced plans to give away 1,000 poop scoops and increase the number of dog waste bins.

The campaign is aimed at encouraging dog owners to clean up after their pets and take a pride in their environment.

A spokesman for the council said: "In an attempt to combat this unpleasant situation, the council has adopted the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, which makes it an offence if any person - and this includes young people - in charge of a dog fails to remove faeces deposited by the animal.''

A limited number of poop scoops are available at the council offices at Old Bank Chambers, in Market Place, Bishop Auckland, the Neighbourhood Centre in Proudfoot Drive, Bishop Auckland, and in the Community Services Department, in Crook Civic Centre.

In addition, council officers will be targeting certain areas to promote the scheme and hand out poop scoops.

The council spokesman said: "This is to make people more thoughtful towards their community and to refrain from treating public places such as recreation grounds, where children play, as dog toilets.''

He said as a last resort the council would prosecute dog owners who refused to clean up after their animals