Poo patrol group says dog mess is 'everywhere'

A volunteer group in Lancashire have taken to the streets in a bid to keep their village free from dog mess.

The Poo Patrol, from Knott End, near Fleetwood, are a volunteer group who go out in the community to pick up dog mess on their paths. Despite their efforts, the group said on a normal day they will tackle 30 piles within the first half an hour - and residents will still report more.

"It's absolutely everywhere - just big piles of it," local dog owner Karen Tunstall told BBC North West Tonight. "There's bags left in the gutters, left round the bins - it's just disgusting."

Poo Patroller Linzi Foster-Nicholson said: "We want to enjoy where we live, we just need to change things."

Since founding the group in 2025, the Poo Patrol group said it has picked up thousands of piles of dog excrement from parks, pavements and coastal trails in the Esplanade area.

Now the members want to shine a light on the issue of dog poo in their area - and encourage all dog owners in the area to "take responsibility".

The group is currently backed by Wyre Council, with council enforcement officers accompanying the group on their patrols.

And the patrol's presence in Knott End has been welcomed by many of the more vigilant local dog owners in the area.

North West Tonight accompanied the group on one of their regular patrols in the Beach Road area.

"We've been walking for probably less than two minutes and already we've picked up two piles," Sandra Pope said of the morning's patrol. "And I can see there's another one on the floor here."

"On a normal day I can easily pick up 30 within half an hour," another volunteer told the BBC - adding that she finds it "annoying" that the responsibility falls to her and not the dog owners responsible.

"If people have a dog they should take responsibility - there's no excuse for it really," she added.

Wyre Council said it was "proud to support the Knott End Poo Patrollers" and to work with residents who are "taking a stand to protect and improve their local environment".

"Dog fouling is taken seriously by Wyre Council, and where education and engagement are not enough, we will take firm action, including issuing Fixed Penalty Notices to irresponsible dog owners.

"By backing community action with robust enforcement, Wyre Council is sending a clear message that dog fouling will not be tolerated anywhere in the borough."

The Poo Patrol has said that all dog fouling should be reported to Wyre Council - via the online incident form.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.