A NEIGHBOURHOOD warden is running a campaign to tackle dog fouling.

David Hamilton aims to inform the public and tackle offenders in response to public concern.

On the day the Daily Echo joined him, he set off at 7am from the regeneration office in Roumelia Lane to hit hotspots like Churchill Gardens.

The law-abiding dog walkers out included Andy Ewens, 47, a hotel porter with Stafforshire Bull Terrier Bonnie, aged two.

He said the gardens were so notorious for fouling they were known locally as “Dog Muck Park” – except he used a stronger term than ‘muck’.

“It’s a huge problem,” he said. “It’s usually the big dogs like the Staffies or Alsatians.”

David’s main role is to be a friendly face giving out free dog litter bags and advice.

He does not have the power to use £50 penalty notices but sometimes goes out with police officers who can.

He said: “I’ve been going out about three times a month.

“I haven’t had a bad reaction but it’s very difficult to catch people in the act. They see you coming and can usually produce a bag from somewhere.”

The dog foulers are like bad cyclists – they are in the minority but create a big problem.

Frustrated Boscombe resident Belli Jayne, out with her pet poodle Cece, said: “There’s a right herbert near me with a big dog that fouls everywhere!”

Walpole Road has been another notorious hotspot for dog fouling, but it appeared to be cleaner while on the patrol.

We approached a couple of dog walkers who did not produce bags from their pockets, but saw no-one in the act. Boscombe Chine Gardens was quiet, and Kings Park was busy with well-behaved owners.

Jim Bailey, 74, from Christchurch, in Kings Park with one-year-old Labrador Rocky, said: “There are lots of disposal sites here and I would say more than 90 per cent of people pick it up.”

David thought his work might be paying off. He said: “It seems to have got a bit better.”

The council sells 100 biodegradable dog bags for £1 from the Roumelia Lane office, Springbourne Library, and Clair de Lune in Southbourne.