A RUGBY coach says he may stop his students playing on popular pitches because irresponsible dog owners are flouting the rules by letting their pets poo on the fields.

Phil Coleman teaches at Colne Community College which runs a satellite site for rugby students on the Mill Road playing fields - which is also the home of Colchester Rugby Club.

As part of a Colchester Council Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), dogs are banned entirely from being on the pitches and must be kept on a lead if they are being walked on the outskirts.

Borough wide regulations also state irresponsible owners who do not pick up after their pooches could be hit with a fixed penalty notice.

Gazette: Warning - rugby coach and Mile End councillor Phil Coleman is fed up with dog mess being left on Mill Road pitches

But Mr Coleman, who is also a Lib Dem councillor for Mile End, said he has noticed a spike in dog mess over the last fortnight.

He said: "I think it is as bad as ever and there has been a particular spate in the last couple of weeks.

"There are four pitches on the field and at least one of them is always covered in dog fouling.

"The worst times seem to be between 7.30am and 8.30am and then from 3.30pm until 4.30pm and me and my students are trying to use the pitches in between time."

Mr Coleman said council zone wardens are now proactively waiting on the fields to try and catch people in the act and warned if players fall into the faeces then it could be a serious health risk.

He said: "I had a boy fall in it last week.

"It is not acceptable that my young players play rugby and fall face first into dog faeces.

"There is a bit of research which says if it goes in somebody's eye then it could genuinely cause blindness.

"We can clear up bits of dog mess but it is the residue which can remain.

"The nature of rugby where people are falling down to the ground often means they are coming into contact with it and it is not on."

Mr Coleman, who previously played professional football for Colchester United and Millwall, warned he may have to stop his students playing on the pitches if the problems persisted.

He said:"A lot of the dog walkers are great - they keep their dogs on the leads and to the side of the pitches.

"But as always it is a few people who are causing the problems.

"I call on all of the community to help the zone wardens stop people fouling.

"If not I’ll seek other solutions - to ask that the whole ground be fenced off or that all rugby is stopped.

"That would be a great shame for players and also for those responsible dog owners who follow the rules."