DOG owners in Darlington are being warned about new measures being introduced on Monday to ban their pets from parts of the town.

Darlington Borough Council has introduced a series of new legal dog control orders, which impose new restrictions on owners.

The orders ban dogs from entering schools and areas with play facilities.

Dogs must be kept on leads in areas including the town centre, Darlington Memorial Hospital, formal areas of the South Park and communal areas of council allotments.

In other areas, an authorised officer can ask for a dog to be put on a lead to prevent it annoying or disturbing other people or animals.

The person in charge of a dog is responsible for removing dog waste from land across the borough.

Anyone breaking a dog control order could be fined up to £75 and failure to pay could lead to a conviction in a magistrates' court and a fine of up to £1,000.

Brian Graham, head of the council's Street Scene, said: "We are urging residents who own a dog to familiarise themselves with these new orders and the areas where they are implemented to ensure they don't commit an offence."

Hurworth parish councillor Jill Russell, co-organiser of the Bag to Basics campaign, which aims to reduce the amount of dog waste in Hurworth, believes the orders will improve the situation.

"I think the dog control orders will definitely make a difference," she said. "It's definitely a step in the right direction as far as dog fouling goes.

"People are coming up to me saying that the streets are looking better.

"But it's not just about dog fouling. Its about respect for the countryside. Farmers have had their livestock chased by dogs when they're off the leads and stiles and fences get broken."

However Coun Russell, who set up the campaign with fellow councillor Jean Peacock, was eager to stress that this is not an attack on all dog owners.

"It's only a minority of irresponsible dog owners who spoil the countryside for the rest of us," she said.

"I am a dog owner myself and three quarters of those who support the campaign are too. Our message to the irresponsible few is to get their act together."

For a definitive list of the new orders and maps showing the areas which are covered by the rules, visit darlington.gov.uk/dogcontrol.