Thousands of pooper-scoopers have been delivered to Castle Point to encourage dog-owners to clean up after their pets.

Tony Doveaston, parks warden for Castle Point Council, along with committee chairmen Dave Blackwell, Brian Weller and Joe Cooke, launched the project at council offices in Kiln Road, Benfleet.

The council is supplying 70,000 green scoops - free of charge - to dog-owners in the borough to clean up after their pooches.

Dave Blackwell, deputy leader and leisure chairman, said the scoops were now available through local vets' practices and at the council's offices in Benfleet and on Canvey.

He said: "Our parks warden, Tony Doveaston, will also be handing them out to dog-walkers throughout the borough in the hope they will use them. Tony will also visit schools to convince the children it's in their interests to pick up their pets' mess."

Scoop - warden Tony Doveaston and councillor Joe Cooke

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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