POLICE have come up with a bright idea to shame dog owners who allow their pets to foul pavements – by spraying poo fluorescent orange.

Operation Springburn will come into force next week after 80 piles of dog mess were logged by police in just six small roads: Old Southend Road, Wesley Road, Albert Road, St Leonard’s Road, Stanley Road and the stretch of York Road which connects them.

The operation will be launched in the six Kursaal ward roads on Tuesday, and if successful, will be rolled out across the borough.

PCSO Jackie Jones, who patrols Kursaal and is behind the colourful idea, said the issue was a big concern to residents.

She said: “It’s one of those things which is brought up at every community meeting. Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it.

“It has got so bad down there it is like a herd of elephants have been down the road.

“Patrolling the area before Christmas I noticed how bad it was and I stepped in some myself. I just thought it has to be sorted out.

“I plotted all the mess in one go over January and it was frightening, there were 75-80 piles. There’s a grass area of Stanley Road and it’s disgusting.”

PCSO Jones added: “There are a lot of kids that play in the area and it’s pretty much on people’s doorstep, which is totally unacceptable.

“It’s a huge issue with police as it is antisocial behaviour.

“I have two large dogs myself and if I can manage to pick the stuff up then everyone else can.”

A scientific approach has been taken to measure the success of the operation. Cory Environmental, which operates Southend Council’s refuse collection, cleared the pavements of dog mess last Tuesday, and after two weeks the number of offences will be counted.

The streets will be cleared again for the operation to start, with the number of offences counted again at the end of the two weeks to see if there has been a reduction.

Under the Clean Neighbourhood Act 2005 it is illegal to not pick up after your dog on all land accessed by the public.

Punishment can be a fixed penalty fine of £80 or a fine up to £1,000 from court.

Police said they already had their suspicions about one repeat offender and said Southend Council had written a warning letter to them.

PCSO Jones added: “It will be interesting to see if it works and if it does it’s a really easy way of preventing it.

“It saves money for Cory having to clear it and saves us time too. It’s win-win.”