A COUNCIL could soon be taking steps to name and shame dog owners who allow their pets to foul Darlington's footpaths, verges and roads.

In January this year, a taskforce was set up by the borough council to examine the problem of dog fouling and noise and look at the dog warden service.

Now a report from the group has recommended the naming of people who have been given fixed penalty notices for dog fouling.

The group has also recommended that Darlington's dog wardens focus more on the problem of fouling.

Members discovered dog wardens spend 99 per cent of their time catching stray dogs.

Uniformed dog wardens have the power to issue £50 fines to those who do not clean up after their dogs.

The report, which goes before the public protection and community partnerships scrutiny committee today, said: "The group was not satisfied with the lack of fixed penalty notices being issued, only one last year, and the fact that the uniformed wardens will not take any responsibility for issuing fixed penalty notices even though they are in a position patrolling parks and other places used by dog walkers. A high-profile enforcement campaign is desperately needed."

The recommendations of the committee will be considered by the council.