A Harlech resident who launched a campaign to make dog owners pick up their pets' mess has won praise this week.

Joe Patton decided that the best way to achieve his objectives was to adopt a “hearts and minds” approach and so he contacted teachers at Ysgol Tan y Castell who then worked with the children in producing colourful posters.

Joe then contacted Gwynedd Council’s Tidy Towns officer, Jonathan Neale, who supported the campaign with free biodegradable dog waste bags.

Joe also then launched his Keep Harlech Beautiful on-line social media campaign and encouraged local residents to spread the word about his forthcoming initiative.

Joe’s campaign and visitor survey ran for eight weeks from July to September during which time he spoke with 350 different dog owners and counted the number of dog faeces along each path surveyed.

Joe said: “I’m very pleased to report that my campaign has resulted in a decrease of 74 per cent in dog fouling on Harlech’s paths, and this was achieved during the high season when the local canine population was four times its normal level.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their contribution and especially to the local community who responded brilliantly.”

Local Gwynedd Councillor Freya Bentham, saidd: “I’m very grateful to Joe for his tireless efforts to raise awareness and for his amazing success in reducing dog fowling in the Harlech area.

“We’re so privileged to be living in such a wonderful landscape here, and the last thing we need is dog mess to spoil the sense of freedom and safety in the town and on the Morfa.”

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