DOG owners in Darlington are being urged to clean up their act by scooping up after their pets.

Sadberge-based Dogs Trust Darlington Rehoming Centre is teaming up with the council dog warden to clean up the town's streets.

The appeal is being timed to run alongside the national Poop Scoop Week, which runs from Monday to July 2.

The dog welfare charity has teamed up with Darlington Borough Council dog warden John Martin to highlight the need for owners to pick up after their pet.

As well as being unpleasant, dog faeces can contain toxocariasis, which can be passed on to humans, potentially causing blindness, especially in children.

Centre manager Sue Embleton said: "Although there are more than five million dog-owning households in the UK, it is just a small minority of owners who let the rest down and give dogs a bad name.

"We are working with Darlington Borough Council and urging all dog owners to get behind the campaign and help the country's canine citizens."

Staff from the home will be at Eastbourne Park and South Park on Tuesday, from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

They are urging dog owners to attend the event to learn more about the campaign.

Darlington council's uniformed wardens and dog wardens regularly patrol parks and other places used for dog walking and can issue fixed penalty notices of £50 to anyone found committing an offence.

In extreme cases, a court fine of up to £1,000 can be given.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.poopscoopweek.co.uk