Concerns about the level of dog mess on Newent's Recreation Ground have been expressed by both Newent Town Wanderers Football Club and Newent Town Council.

The football club has asked the council, which owns the site off Watery Lane, to consider banning dogs from the area.

But this move has been rejected by the council as not practical.

Instead, the town council is to put in extra signs asking dog owners to clean up and to provide free poop-scooper bags, a service that is already provided at the town's arboretum site.

Mayor, Coun Fred Passant, said that a couple of new bins would also be provided.

He said: "It's quite serious up there. A lot of people let their dogs run wild there, and it's not very pleasant. There is a health risk to football players and rugby players, as well as children."