Volunteers will take to the streets of Clayton-le-Moors to help raise awareness of the dangers of dog fouling.
Community group Mercer House 1842 has organised the event later this month in coordination with local police and the Hyndburn Council dog warden to help reduce the problem of fouling across the area.
Former ward councillor and Mercer House director Nick Collingridge said the day of action comes in response to feedback from a survey issued to more than 2,400 households in Clayton-le-Moors.
He said: “We got a return of 14 per cent which is very good and well above the national average. They gave us four priorities to look at and dog fouling was at the top of the list.
“We thought if we could get local people involved then hopefully the message will get through to people about the sorts of diseases there are in dog faeces and how it can spread.
“We have got a poster campaign going on at the moment and we have 12 volunteers signed up so far. The police and council dog warden are also involved and possibly local councillors too. It will be coordinated by Mercer House.”
It will take place on Wednesday, August 26 from 6am with teams of two visiting Mercer Park, the Lancaster Avenue Estate, the Woodlands and the canal.
Nick said: “We will be giving out dog bags and a leaflet with the dangers of dog faeces and we will just see what difference it makes.
“We will also red flag an area of Mercer Park to see how many droppings there are at the moment and then in a months time do a similar exercise and go back and see if there is any difference.
“The long term plan is to educate people into picking up after their dogs. We want to get enough people to do it.
“We don’t expect them to do more than two hours at a time and we have got the police and dog warden involved to make sure they don’t get any abuse.”
Anyone intested in taking part should visit the Annex on Pickup Street or Mercer House in Mercer Park and leave their name and contact number.
A meeting will be also held before August 26 to organise the day.
