A BURY soccer club secretary has hit out at “foul” play.

Mike Roberts, of Westbury Sports Club, has slammed irresponsible pet owners after dog mess had to be removed from all six pitches before any games could take place last Saturday.

He says that a total of 67 dog foulings had to be bagged, including 18 removed from one pitch alone, located at the Wellington Barracks off Bolton Road.

The club says that when 300 youngsters were looking forward to getting back to playing football after several weeks of snow and frozen pitches, they were met by a “shameful mess”. Dog fouling was discovered on every pitch.

Mr Roberts said: “I am absolutely astounded by the lack of consideration people who walk their dogs at the barracks give to the children who take part in sports here. There are bins for the disposal of bagged fouling and these bins are visible and clearly used by responsible dog walkers.

“Children’s health is being put at risk by those who do not remove their dog’s mess. The club has a duty to protect children from this, but thoughtlessness by some people is making it very difficult.”

Mr Roberts said he would support moves to ban dog walking on sports grounds if the problem continued.