IT'S not fouls during play that have affected young footballers in the Vale of Clwyd.

Instead, it's the issue of dog fouling on the pitch.

It has impacted Denbigh Town Juniors FC who play on Denbigh Lower playing fields and the situation has been described as "unsafe" for children to play football.

Denbigh Town Juniors FC chairman Richard Jones said it was an ongoing issue.

He said: "It's not just this weekend.

"It's every week. Aside from it being disgusting, it's unsafe for the children playing on the field.

"Ever since the other fields nearby were fenced off and padlocked, it's left the Rec as the only field for kids to play football and families to enjoy some outdoor games throughout the year.

"It also seems to be the only field dog walkers let their dogs roam on despite there being plenty of fields in Denbigh.

"We know the current rule is that dogs have to stay off the marked pitch, but we would encourage the local authority to seriously consider prohibiting dogs from using the field altogether.

"We pride ourselves on providing a safe and fun environment for the young people of Denbigh and surrounding areas to enjoy their football.

"The dog fouling situation is making that difficult."

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Rhys Thomas and Mark Young, Denbigh members on Denbighshire County Council, have urged dog owners to keep their pets off the pitch.

In a joint statement, they said: “(We're) urging dog owners to be respectful and keep their dogs off Denbigh Lower playing fields to protect our children.

"Sadly we are here again, we’ve been contacted by the youth football team and a number of upset parents after the town’s football team had to clear large amounts of dog fouling before playing their match on Saturday.

“This isn’t acceptable. It’s a playing field - children play on it.

"Dogs are not allowed on the marked football pitches.

"Please keep off and pick up your dog muck in the area, enforcement have been notified and will be visiting this area stated.

"The majority of dog owners are totally responsible but it really is not acceptable for this behaviour, especially where young children are playing, so please can the few keep off but also bag it then bin it."

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “Dog fouling remains an important priority for the council and we work closely with district enforcement alongside local members and the public to identify those who are offending.

“The majority of dog owners act responsibly and we would like to thank them for ensuring our communities remain clean and attractive for our residents."

To report an incident of dog fouling, people can visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/environmental-health/dog-issues/report-a-dog-related-issue.aspx