A TORY councillor who hung up a sign to shame errant dog owners has been criticised for his use of language.

The notice fixed to Jim Ruck's garage door in one of Darlington's most affluent areas says: "Please remove your dog sh**".

Police last night condemned the sign, saying it could be an offence under the Public Order Act.

A mother called The Northern Echo to complain after her five-year-old daughter grew curious about the Darlington borough councillor's choice of words.

"I often walk past the garage with my daughter on our way back from school and I don't feel the sign is at all appropriate, especially for a Conservative councillor," said the local woman, who asked not to be named.

"I think a lot of mothers and youngsters walk that way and the language is atrocious."

The sign is along a back lane between Linden Avenue and Carmel Gardens - close to Abbey Infant and Junior schools.

As well as being used by pupils and parents, the lane is regularly used by dog walkers.

Councillor Ruck said that he had put up the sign as a "shock tactic" to tackle the problem of dog fouling.

Defending his wording, he said: "The type of language used today sets the standard.

"When people get annoyed they are often very rude and it is a pity this woman finds it necessary to complain.

"I have got grandchildren of six and seven myself and they know what the word means."

The Conservative member for Park West promised to remove the sign if people found it offensive.

"I'll be happy to take it down. I'll go and scratch the word off right now," he said.

Inspector Brian Maudling, of Darlington police, said that such a sign would be inappropriate, particularly if children were walking past it.

"Anyone who puts up a sign of this sort could be committing an offence under the Public Order Act and we would advise them to remove it," he said.