The dog DNA scheme trialled in Thanet has been given the sack by the council following a low take up.

Following a three-month pilot period, it has been revealed that the initiative will not be implemented permanently.

The idea was to crack down on irresponsible dog ownership by building up a database of dogs in Thanet to catch careless owners who fail to pick up after their pets.

Cllr Fairbrass, deputy leader and cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Take up of the pilot was relatively low to realise some of the benefits expected so we will not be rolling it out permanently.”

Dog DNA registration began on Saturday, July 1 with council members and officers spending the afternoon at Government Acre, Ramsgate, talking to dog walkers about the so-called benefits.

If the scheme had been given the green light, it would have cost the council £20,000 a year to run, which would have been funded through fines paid from enforcement action.

During the summer, dog owners were invited to voluntarily register their pooches.

When the scheme was initially announced, it was questioned by one Thanet pet organisation who suggested it may be "pointless".

Speaking at the time, Debbie Channing from TAG pet rescue, Margate, said: "We are a little unsure of this rather strange idea.

"The guilty parties are going to be the ones who don't register so then it would be pointless.

"The ones who do register would pick up after their dogs anyway so again, pointless."