A COUNCIL is attempting to tackle the sticky problem of dog fouling by offering owners free waste bags.

Dog poo scattered across fields and meadows in Carterton has riled up the community so much that action has been taken to sort it out.

The town council and several businesses in the area have sponsored 10 TiksPac stations,which will be installed in the coming weeks.

The stations, which TiksPac rents out for £300 a year, are funded by the sponsors and dispense free bags to encourage dog owners to get rid of their pets’ waste.

This new strategy in the battle against dog fouling was spearheaded by the town council’s amenities officer Teresa Whitford.

She said: “It’s happening on our playing fields, our recreation areas and green spaces.

"We get a lot of mums calling in worried about their children going to school and having to step over so much on the way.

“I’ve become more passionate about the issue since having my grandson because if kids fall over into that it’s really not nice. You also get mums in prams who end up going through it.

“Some of the areas get really lovely in the summer and you see families out there for a picnic and having to look around around them before sitting down.

"I just don’t understand. There are plenty of bins."

The stations bear the names of the supporting business and council and will be placed in spots around the town most commonly used by dog walkers, including Willow Meadows, the area worst affected by uncollected dog mess.

There are about 7,000 produced by TiksPac across the UK and Scandinavia. Earlier this year Didcot Town Council revealed it would install 22 TiksPac stations within the town's parks and open spaces

Mrs Whitford continued: “To me it’s a mind-set. If you’ve never done it you just don’t think about doing it.

“It’s like seatbelts. It took a long time for people to get used to it but once they did you now can’t imagine not wearing one. Some of it is just ignorance.

"Irresponsible dog owners will now have no excuse not to pick up after their dog.

"These stations will be located in prolific dog walking areas and will hopefully reduce the amount of dog waste not picked up on a regular basis."

Mayor of Carterton Lynn Little praised Mrs Whitford for her hard work.

She said: “Teresa took this on and made it a reality. She puts much more effort into things than is expected of her and she does it off her own back.

“She’s so passionate about what she does and we’re really lucky to have her.”

Businesses backing the scheme alongside the council are Complete Weed Control, Carpenters Bed and Breakfast, Oxford Garden Design, Sobell House, RAF Brize Norton Thrift Shop, Eight Views bed and breakfast, PP Payroll Solutions Ltd, Tremain Vets, Carterton Community Centre, My Best Friend Dog Care, Lansdowne Chemicals, Carterton Vets, Swift UPVC and C Clarke Landscape and Groundworks.

The businesses, which have initially signed up to two-year sponsorship deal on the stations, received certificates of corporate social responsibility for investing in the scheme.

The bags are completely biodegradable and are provided free by TiksPac as part of the sponsorship deal.