THE action of Worcester dog walkers in throwing bags of their animals' mess into trees and bushes during the summer have been revealed as the bags fall to the ground with the autumn leaves.

The footpath beside the River Severn behind the Wheatsheaf pub in Henwick Road is littered with plastic bags full of excrement.

"The leaves have fallen down and there's bags everywhere now," said Margaret Watson, of Henwick Road.

"The bags aren't even bio-degradable. The people who walk their dogs would have been better off leaving the mess where it was, because at least that would've gone."

Mrs Watson, the owner of two dogs, says she always picks up the mess her animals make and takes it home.

"There's no excuse, even though you have to go all the way to McDonald's to find the nearest bin," she said.

People who live nearby have contacted their city councillor, Richard Bird, to complain about the mess.

"The dog owners have moved a bit towards easing the situation by cleaning it up and putting it in bags," said Coun Bird.

"But even though they cleaned it up it's still in plastic bags. I think they're frustrated by a lack of bins along here."

Last month, the Evening News revealed how dog walkers were throwing bags of animal excrement into shrubbery along the footbridge of the Worcester and Birmingham canal, at Wordsworth Avenue, off Bilford Road.

Council officials insisted they could do nothing, as the council did not have to provide bins.

"The city council already provides 100 bins," said Martin Gillies, the city council's principal environmental health officer.

"The responsibility lies with the dog owners. If they don't pick up, or dispose of the mess appropriately, there's a £1,000 fine."