WORKING with the Keep Wales Tidy group, volunteers from Chepstow Rugby Club are, literally, highlighting the problems associated with dogs fouling the club grounds.

They are using chalk based marker sprays to draw attention to the sheer amount of dog faeces which are bring deposited on the pitches, and, in their first survey, they have marked 35 examples.

Club secretary Irene Williams said: "The rugby club is very tired of continually finding dog mess around and on its pitches, needing to make a clearing sweep every time they are used.

"Aside from the sheer unpleasantness of having to remove often rain-softened dog mess, they are extremely concerned about being able to guarantee a playable and safe pitch for training and games.

"Chepstow RFC appeals to the dog owning public to please pick up after their pet. People are to be reminded that dog poo bins are provided in the community, and it is also acceptable to place bagged dog poo in a litter bin."

"People should remember too that it is an offence not to pick up after your dog."

Keep Wales Tidy have said that despite an overall improvement in dog fouling on the streets of Wales, according to the All Wales Cleanliness Survey this year, it still remains a serious and dangerous problem for many neighbourhoods in Wales.

It has also pointed out that, quite apart from dog faeces carrying harmful bugs which can lead to infection, asthma and even blindness, all sorts of bacteria can live in soil long after the dog mess has wasted away.