Councillors concerned about the plague of dog poo littering the streets, fields, and play areas of Dereham have vowed to tackle the messy issue.And it seems the foul topic is at the forefront of problems in the town, after councillor Philip Duigan revealed it is one of the most common complaints from residents.

Councillors concerned about the plague of dog poo littering the streets, fields, and play areas of Dereham have vowed to tackle the messy issue.

And it seems the foul topic is at the forefront of problems in the town, after councillor Philip Duigan revealed it is one of the most common complaints from residents.

During a town council meeting on Tuesday night he said: “Dog fouling gets talked about almost as much as traffic. People are always complaining about it.

“We've got to tackle the situation. The town council has done a wonderful job of putting up bins but we need more.”

Mr Duigan, who is chairman of the heritage and open spaces committee, said the committee had requested Breckland Council install a dog mess bin on a patch of land at South Green the town council is set to take over, in a bid to start reducing the problem.

In the last 12 months the town council has put in 17 dog foul bins leading the total amount to 43, with each bin costing about £200 to £250.

After hearing a report from the heritage and open spaces committee asking for help from Breckland in how to deal with the issue, town councillors agreed.

Now the town council will approach Breckland to see what actions the town council could take, on its own, or in partnership with Breckland, to reduce the level of dog fouling.

Tony Needham, Dereham town clerk, said: “Perhaps it's time to broaden our strategy out. We're looking at ways of broadening our methods.

“We have the bins, now we need people to pick it up and put it in the bin.”

For some owners who walk their dogs around the town, it is easier not to scoop the poop.

But while it may be inconvenient for the owner to deal with, it is the rest of the town's residents who must deal with the smelly, unsightly consequences.

Not only does it mean anyone hoping to take a stroll in scenic countryside or meander down the High Street must always be watching their step, dog mess is a nightmare to remove from the bottom of a favourite pair of shoes, and picnics are ruled firmly out of the equation.

More importantly it is dangerous for curious young children, who can suffer from an array of serious illnesses, including blindness, if they come into contact with it.