A FOOTBALL club leader is threatening to pick up dog mess left on the sports field and post it back through the letterbox of irresponsible pet owners

A FOOTBALL club leader is threatening to pick up dog mess left on the sports field and post it back through the letterbox of irresponsible pet owners.Chairman of St George Easton-in-Gordano Football Club Andy King is so incensed at the level of dogs' mess left on the pitch at Court Hay in the village he is threatening to track down those responsible and push it through their letterboxes.The threat comes after numerous incidents of players stepping in dog mess left on the pitch during matches. Mr King said: "We have asked numerous times for the people responsible to pick up the mess and deposit it in the bins provided, but this seems too much to ask."Apparently there are fines that can be levied if anyone is caught, but these owners seem to disregard such threats."We have tried to be nice and polite about the situation, but this has gone on too long."If any member of the club spots an owner allowing their dog to foul it may be that, rather than confront them, we follow them home and post the mess through their letterbox so they can walk in it as our players have to every week."No doubt there will be howls of derision if we do, but it seems to me that ignorant, selfish members of the community may only understand like-for-like treatment to get the message home. They can be sure we will be keeping close surveillance from now on."The warning comes at the same time as North Somerset Council is considering introducing new bylaws banning dogs from open spaces as part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.Dogs could be banned from Hardwick Road playing fields, the parish council football pitch at Macrae Road, Ham Green, and at The Orchard at Watchhouse Hill. But the football pitch at Court Hay is owned by St George's Church and the parish council has now written asking it to consider introducing a ban on the field.Easton-in-Gordano Parish Council chairman Gerry Hunt said: "The parish council would very much like to see a dog ban at Court Hay, but cannot request one as we do not own it."It is only a minority of dog owners who behave in this way who spoil it for responsible dog owners."To have mess all over an area which is used by children poses a real health risk.