A GROUP of Portlanders has banded together to blitz dog mess on the island.

Portland Locals Against Poo (PLOP) hopes to encourage dog owners to clear up their animal’s mess.

Group spokeswoman Georgina Bacon said: “Dog fouling has been a noted problem on the island for a long time.

“It is obviously unpleasant and unsightly but it also represents a danger to public health, in particular to children, with many instances of fouling happening around the local schools.

“The failure to remove dog faeces from ‘designated land’ is an offence under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 and we would like to see this law enforced on a more regular basis.”

She added: “We have already undertaken a number of surveys around various parts of the island that have been recorded, and we will continue to monitor the situation.

“We have taken a light-hearted approach to the campaign with the name but as a group, we are all very serious about making a real change to the current situation and we hope everyone will get behind us in what we are trying to do.”

Jason Hughes, a group member, said: “We want to really raise the profile of this issue by reporting offenders to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

“Our aims also include educating people, especially parents, on the health issues with the problem.

“Hopefully we will be able to embarrass dog owners who do not clear up the mess into changing their behaviour.”

An event will be held on Saturday to kick start the group’s activities.

Members will be staging a ‘plop walk’ starting at Easton Gardens at 10.30am, and walking up Easton Lane and New Road to finish at Victoria Gardens in Fortuneswell.

Mr Hughes added: “We will have balloons, car stickers, leaflets and poop bag dispensers to hand out and we will be highlighting the problems.”