COUNCILLORS are preparing to engage in some dirty business - and tackle the increasing problem of dog fouling in Warrington.

Next Wednesday members of the borough's community services advisory group will debate what's to be done about the scourge, which affects parkland and verges the length and breadth of the town.

The number of complaints about the issue have increased by nearly 30 per cent recently, from 131 in 1999/2000 to 170 during the past 12 months.

Last month Lymm Parish Council members, disgusted at dog-fouling on Davies Way car park, demanded that the Town Hall take action over the matter.

And there have been frequent concerns raised by parish councillors in Winwick and Stockton Heath, echoing concerns about a lack of enforcement against offending dog owners.

More than 42 per cent of people interviewed as part of a parks review, this year, said they were put off visiting green spaces by dog-fouling.

Three options are being offered to councillors - retain the status quo with limited enforcement powers, fund extra dog wardens to patrol problem areas evenings and weekends, or use existing resources to combat the problem.