RESIDENTS say a radical technique to tackle dog poo has made a drastic improvement to their area.

Locals in Battlefield were sick of the amount of dog mess lining their streets, and decided to leave a little present of their own for when owners failed to clean up.

Using chalk-based spray paint, they have been leaving messages which read "pick up your poo, we're watching you" on the pavements next to any dog mess.

Glasgow Times:

Clare Roberts, who runs the Battlefield Community Project, helped to start the project along with local SNP councillor Anna Richardson.

Mum-of-two Clare said: " We have an annual street party in Battlefield, which we've been doing since 2009.

At the first one we asked local people what kind of things they were concerned about and dog fouling was raised then.

"More recently people would bring it up again, they'd say they'd be taking their kids in a pram and they'd run the wheel through dog poo or would be walking around and notice it a lot.

"It's really quite a mess in the local area.

"Councillor Richardson said she had heard of a scheme with the stencils and chalk paint which can help.

"We've been doing it the last few weeks and it has made a huge difference in the local area. The kids have been getting really involved too as they've been getting to spray colourful paint onto the pavements.

"As it has been quite dry it's stayed there for quite a while before it gets washed away.

" Other people in different parts of the community have asked how they can do it too."

Clare said since they started the initiative three weeks ago, the amount of dog poo in the area has reduced and more people have become interested in the scheme.

Glasgow Times:

They have successfully targeted the streets around Battlefield Primary school with a team of kids, as well as a number of other areas including Camphill Avenue.

Clare added: "We want to make clear we're not anti-dog, we just want to make the area much cleaner and safer, particularly for young children

She has also encouraged anyone who is interested in tackling the mess in their street to get in touch via the Battlefield Community project Facebook page.

Councillor Anna Richardson, SNP councillor for Langside said: "One of the issues constituents have complained about over and over since I was elected is dog fouling.

"People feels like they are powerless, there is nothing they can do.

"All they can do is complain to the council who then have to spend money cleaning it up, so everyone was quite unhappy with the situation.

"The technique was recommended to me by another community group and it has been really effective.

"We've already seen the amount of dog poo that has been left lying around come down and it's a great thing to get kids involved in as they can see the different it makes in the area too."