DOG owners are being warned they could be fined £80 if they allow their pets on some Hartlepool beaches.

The seasonal dog ban covers a stretch of Seaton Carew beach between the Norton Hotel and the coach park, and between the Fish Sands and Block Sands on the Headland, including the lower promenade and the paddling pool.

The ban runs from May until the end of September and aims to ensure the town's most popular beaches remain clean and tidy during the main holiday season.

The council warned that dog owners caught breaching the ban would receive a fixed penalty notice.

But council officials stressed there were still plenty of other areas of beach where dogs could be exercised freely.

Project Officer Kate Ainger said: “We want as many people as possible, including dog owners, to be able to enjoy the town’s beaches.

“However, we feel that the seasonal ban on dogs is necessary to ensure our most popular stretches of beach are clean and tidy and attractive to visitors who, in turn, spend money that provides a vital boost to the local economy.”

For more information about where dogs can be exercised go to www.hartlepool.gov.uk and search for “Dog Control Orders”.