Dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets are facing a fine in a crackdown on mess.

Animal Welfare officers from Coventry City Council have been patrolling the streets in a pilot scheme in Radford looking for offending squatters.

Other dog-walking areas in the city are also being watched.

If a dog is allowed to foul the streets without the owners following with a pooper-scooper than the humans can fall foul of the law.

So far 12 people have been fined in the campaign.

The £25 fixed penalty notice has to be paid within 14 days, otherwise miscreants could face a court prosecution with a fine of up to £1,000 plus costs.

Cllr John McNicholas, cabinet member for environmental services, said:

“This is part of a long-term drive to encourage responsible dog ownership.

“Being a dog owner myself I would ask other dog lovers to clean up after their pets.

“This simple action not only reduces the health risk to our young children but helps clean up the environment too.

“I would like to stress that we would rather people clean up after their dogs themselves, but we will take legal action if people are caught out and then fail to take their penalty.”