City Councillors are asking the public to back a campaign to get tough on dog owners who fail to clear up their pet’s poo.

The PooWatch app, developed by the Safer Worcester Partnership, Duckworth Worcestershire Trust and Worcester City Council, allows users to report locations where dog muck hasn’t been cleaned up.

Information reported on the app will be used as evidence in an application to the Government to declare Public Space Protection Orders in the city’s dog mess hotspots.

This will give the council power to fine resident’s on-the-spot of up to £100 and any dog owner who refuses to pay could face court action and a fine of up to £1,000.

The app has been funded by Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion.

Councillor Joy Squires, chair of the council’s environment committee, said: “None of us want to see dog mess on our pavements, so I want to urge city residents to help us build up a picture of where Worcester’s poo black spots are.”

The app can be used wherever and whenever and when a hotspot is identified, poo bag dispensers will be put out to make it easier to clean up.

It is an interactive map enabling the public to find the nearest bin or report mess on pavements; action will be reported to the member of public who reported it.

Cllr Alan Feeney, Vice chair of the environment committee, added: “The PooWatch app has been popular with Worcester residents for the last two years, but now we want people to use it more because the data on those hot spots can help us get more powers to keep our streets poo-free.”