A pensioner whose dog fouled one of Norfolk's most precious wildlife spots has been successfully prosecuted by Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

The whole borough is covered by the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, meaning those who fail to clear up can incur a fine of up to £1,000 in the courts. The Environmental Rangers continue to appeal to residents to report any dog owners seen breaking the law.

Dennis Bird, aged 71, failed to pick up after the dog he was walking fouled on the North Denes Dunes, which as both a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SPA (Special Protection Area), is a haven for wildlife, including rare and uncommon species.

The offence, on April 20, was witnessed by a member of the public, who watched Mr Bird return to a vehicle, noted down the registration number and passed this to the Environmental Rangers, who used the information to trace Mr Bird.

On November 8 at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court, Bird, of Garfield Road, Great Yarmouth, pleaded guilty by post to an offence of dog-fouling. He was fined £100 and told to pay £150 costs plus a £30 victim surcharge.

One of the borough council's priorities is to support people who want to contribute to enhancing the borough, and to challenge people and their behaviour when they disrupt others' quality of life.

Cllr Carl Smith, chairman of the environment committee, said: 'Great Yarmouth Borough Council has one of the best records in Norfolk for enforcement on environmental crimes, including dog-fouling – and our message is clear.

'Wherever you happen to be, always pick up your dog's waste, bag it and bin it – either in a public litter bin, dog waste bin or at home. Otherwise, if you persist in polluting the environment, we will prosecute you in the courts and you will get a criminal record.

'We also have a clear appeal to other people, including the vast majority of dog owners who are responsible, to help us by providing with tip-offs, so the Environmental Rangers are able to target the right areas and individuals.

'What they need is as much information as possible, such as the date, time, location and description of the person and dog. As this case proves, the vehicle registration number can also be really useful in tracking down the offender.'

Anyone who witnesses an environmental crime in the borough or has information that may help to identify an offender should contact the Environmental Rangers. The quickest way to report is to download the Report IT GY App, or you can call 01493 846478.