FED-UP residents have launched their own battle against dog mess blighting their town, with the help of chalk spray.

Harwich Town Residents’ Association has stocked up on the fluorescent spray and is using it to mark the mess that dog owners have left behind.

They are hoping to embarrass the owners into cleaning up after their pets and prevent pedestrians from stepping in it.

The scheme is already proving to be a success.

Association chairman Ken Hewitt said: “It seems to work, but it hasn’t stopped it.

“Dog mess was left right outside my shop. I saw it and I went out and put chalk spray around it. I went out an hour later and it was gone – someone had cleared it up.”