CHILDREN disgusted by seeing dog dirt outside their school are spearheading a campaign for cleaner streets.

Pupils at Carr Junior School collected 400 signatures on a petition for action that prompted city council executive member Ann Reid into taking action. Carr Infant School pupils, staff and parents also sent in a petition.

Now, children in Years 2 to 6 from both schools are designing posters that will be part of an education campaign in the area to encourage dog owners to clean up after their pets.

At a city council decision meeting, Coun Reid backed plans to install a dog bin outside both schools in Ostman Road, Acomb and extra patrols by dog wardens. She also supported displaying posters and distributing flyers in the area and publicity through the ward newsletters informing dog owners on how to deal with dog dirt and encourage them to keep the streets clean.

Caroline Ryder, head of Carr Junior School, said: “I think the children have been fantastic. The children have identified a problem, taken appropriate action, involved the appropriate people and are now encouraging others to participate in finding a solution.”

The campaign began when children from the school went on patrol with local police to try and highlight the problem. They took a camera with them to photograph things they were concerned about.

They were so concerned about the amount of dog dirt they saw and the attendant health risks, they started writing letters to community leaders in the hope of doing something about it, including their ward councillors, then started their own petition. The school council is also involved in the campaign and one of its Year 3 members persuaded a council official over the telephone to give a talk at a school assembly on the problem and possible ways to tackle it.

Now pupils are designing posters on how to keep pavements clear of dog mess. The best will be displayed around the school and possibly in the community.