RAWDON residents have got together to help clear the town of dog poo.

The first part of the clean up had to be postponed because of bad weather and was rearranged from February 5 to February 11.

Volunteers started by cleaning up the children's park at Jubilee Hall before making their way to the football pitch.

Organiser Selma Waterhouse was joined by four others - Lucy Alderton, Nadine Houghton, Joanne Smith and Eleanor Thomson.

She said: "The meeting point was a key starting area as it’s a small children's park.

"As soon as we arrived we saw several dog poo bags lying around and one was right next to the bin.

"We also picked up several lots of loose dog mess which had been left by owners. Absolutely disgraceful. This is a well known area for children and a park. The irresponsible dog owners should be ashamed.

"We covered the streets heading up to the football pitch next to St. Peter and Paul’s school. The football pitch is another hot spot for children and it’s right outside a school and a well known nursery Emma’s angels. I can’t think of anything worse than these little children going home with poo on their little shoes and clothes.

"We were out for an hour and a half and picked litter as well as dog poo.

"It’s a great feeling knowing we have helped clean some areas where children will be playing."

For parts of the clear up the group followed the SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operation) technique as used by police.

Selma said: "That’s because Nadine very helpfully suggested we do the SOCO technique as we were covering various fields - which worked so well."

She said local people had thanked them for all their hard work.

She added: "It would be great to have others joining us next time.We will share the next dates on our Rawdon community page. We are in conversation about organising another clean up but dates are yet to be confirmed."

Selma organised the clean up because of the growing problem of dog poo, which seemed to have got worse during lockdown.

She said: “Residents are fed up of going out and standing in dog poo (mainly on the footpath and pavement), families with young children are frustrated and angry as they are constantly having to clean up poo from their children’s shoes or clothes.”