A disgusted walker discovered 140 plastic poo bags left hanging from trees or tossed into bushes along a route just a mile long.

Volunteer litter picker David Leekie spent the day clearing up the mess left by lazy dog owners around Fordwich, near Canterbury.

The retired dentist, who lives in the village, believes the bags are being dumped by a "hardcore" group of selfish walkers.

"They seem to think it's socially acceptable to decorate the countryside with them," he said.

"The problem is that these plastic bags don't biodegrade and will stay there for years.

"It astonishing that some dog walkers seem responsible enough to clean up after their pets but can't be bothered to wait to find a bin or take it home, leaving this horrible blight in the countryside.

"I actually don't think its 140 different dogs walkers, but a hardcore few who just can't bothered and it's built up over the months."

Now, Mr Leekie, 66, has erected signs along the popular dog-walking routes around Fordwich reminding owners to dispose of the poo bags responsibly.

Coincidently, the city council recently posted its disgust at the practice on its Facebook page and pledged a crackdown and fines for offenders.

Council spokesman James Mercer said: "What is wrong with some dog owners? They go to the trouble of bringing out and then using the dog poo bags in their pockets but instead of putting them in the bin, they fling them in a bush or tree.

"Having got that far, how hard can it be to do the right thing?

"In the coming weeks, we'll be ramping up our enforcement action against the very small minority of irresponsible and selfish dog owners who spoil it for everyone else."

Enforcement officers will especially be targeting Thanington Fields, Westgate Gardens, Shalmsford Street in Chartham and Bridge.

In Whitstable, they will be focussing on Stream Walk, Keams Yard, Regent Street, West Beach, Marine Parade and Alexandra Road.

And in Herne Bay, officers will be out on the seafront, as well as the Memorial Park, Hampton, Curtis Wood and Brunswick Square.

The council says that blackspots can also be reported by visiting www.canterbury.gov.uk and search 'report dog fouling'.

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