People visiting Potters Bar's parks could be forgiven for thinking there are some very sick dogs in the town.

Fluorescent pink dog mess is appearing in parks and walkways throughout Hertsmere but it's not the fault of our four-legged friends.

Hertsmere Council has launched a campaign to highlight the problem of dogs fouling in parks and play areas, by spraying the offending matter bright pink.

This makes it easier for council contractors to clean up, as they don't have to waste time looking for it first, and more importantly it makes it easier for parents to avoid the stinky deposits when taking their children out to play.

Dog mess is dangerous stuff, which can cause illnesses including blindness in children. It is also, obviously, unpleasant.

Since the campaign started on Monday, parks patrol officer Shaz Setoudeh said he had met dozens of people who were pleased something was being done about the dog mess in Hertsmere's parks.

He is also handing free poop-scoop bags to dog walkers, and information about why it is important to clean up after your dog.

"We are doing the campaign this week, but will also continue through the summer, targeting the parks early in the mornings," said Mr Setoudeh.

"We are always going to get a minority of people who allow their dogs to foul the footpath and then walk away, but most people seem really supportive of the idea that they should bag up the mess and take it away."

The campaign is being run with help from the National Canine Defence League, and forms part of national Poop Scoop Week which ends this week.

Later this summer Hertsmere Council will install 50 new metal dog waste bins, which will be harder to vandalise than the old plastic ones.