YOUNGSTERS from two primary schools have designed their own posters in a bid to tackle irresponsible dog owners.

Children from the Oaks Primary School and Sharples Primary were challenged by Astley Bridge councillors to design the posters to put up in roads around the area.

Kath Smith, headteacher from the Oaks, in Sharples Hall Drive, said the children were delighted to see their designs on lampposts and railings.

She said: “They are absolutely disgusted by the mess.

“We’ve had issues in the past of people picking up after their dogs but then throwing the dirty bags into the trees by the school. Since the posters have gone up we’ve had neighbours ring the school to say thank you to the children for getting on board.”

Astley Bridge councillor Hilary Fairclough, who organised the initiative with her colleagues Cllr John Walsh and Cllr Paul Wild, was delighted by the enthusiasm of the children.

She said: “The posters are fantastic.

“We want to get the message out that while people are picking up after their dogs, they are not putting their bags in the bins but throwing them into the bushes and trees instead. It’s disgusting.”