'PLEASE clean up after your dogs if they poo on our pitch.'

That is the message from the Burnbridge Wanderers Junior Football Club who said their coaches have to spend half an hour cleaning up dog mess from Highbridge Recreation Ground before matches can start.

Darren Field from Burnbridge Wanderers JFC said the club has been working with Sedgemoor District Council to crackdown on the problem but said the pitch continues to be littered with dog mess.

He said: "Dog poo has been a big problem in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge for a number of years. It is a fact that it happens.

"We played a match a few weeks ago and were really pleased when parents from the away team said they liked the pitch and facilities we had.

"But we were later disappointed when another group of parents and some of the coaches from the away team said they were appalled by the amount of dog mess on the pitch.

"It is embarrassing for us as a club to hear this and its awful that our coaches have to spend 30 minutes scooping up dog poo before a match can start and they pick up such a lot it gets into double figures.

"Our players should not have to slide around in dog mess, its disgusting.

Dog fouling can cause toxocariasis which is an infection of the roundworm toxocara canis.

Eggs of the parasite can be found in sand or soil that is contaminated with faeces and if it is swallowed it can cause an infection for up to 24 months.

Some of the symptoms for this include dizziness and nausea and in an extreme case can cause fits.

The dog owner is responsible for cleaning up mess and if they fail to do so they can be issued with a fixed penalty notice and if this goes to court the fine could reach £1,000.

Darren said the club posted about the match on social media in a bid to make dog owners aware of the problems they are causing but said it is up to dog owners to clean up their mess.

He added: "We have reported this to Sedgemoor District Council and they have put fences up and more dog bins on the pitch but there is only so much they can do.

"Ultimately there are people who care and people who don't. The people who don't care know what they are doing when they leave dog mess out on the pitch and they know that someone else is going to pick it up.

"I would urge dog owners to report dog poo if they see it on the pitch and to please pick up after their dogs if they poo on the pitch."

A spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council said the council increases dog warden patrols when dog poo hotspots are reported to them but it is down to dog owners to clean up after their pets.