A POSTER warning that dog food laced with poison would be hidden across Leigh to teach "selfish" owners a lesson was found pinned to a lamppost.

Dave Foxall, 50, was walking his miniature schnauzer Nancy and his brother's dog Sid in Marine Parade, Leigh, when he came across the shocking flyer.

It warned: "The recent level of mess on the path has become intolerable. Due to selfish dog owners, dog food laced with poison will be placed in this area of path and woods.

“We hope to avoid death- but in the event of loss– perhaps you might consider both walking your dogs on a lead and not allowing them to fowl the path without removing their mess to the bins provided.”

Mr Foxall, who lives nearby, labelled the person responsible for the threat as "a pretty sick individual."

He has since handed the poster, which was found on Friday morning, in to police.

Mr Foxall said: “I was walking my dog at the top of Marine Parade when another dog owner pointed out the sign to me. It was taped to a lamppost along the steps leading to Leigh train station.

“This is someone blatantly saying they intend to poison our dogs. It has to be a pretty sick individual.

“There have been several incidents of dog poisoning in the Rochford area and now it looks like it could happen in Leigh too. It means that this will have to be another area where I'm cautious about taking my dog.

“What the person is complaining about isn’t necessarily wrong. You do occasionally see dog mess in the area, but the vast majority of dog owners pick up it up, only the odd person doesn’t.

“By all means, have a good rant, say you will report dog owners, put a poster up even, but don’t threaten to poison a dog- that is obscene.

“The poster is very worrying. You just can’t take the risk that the person won’t go through with it.”

Leigh town councillor Caroline Parker slammed irresponsible dog owners, but said the poster was a step too far.

She said: "I can understand the frustration of whoever put the flyer up but it is a rather drastic measure. It is a big step to take, but they are obviously trying to shame dog owners and make them responsible.

“Dog owners do appal me these days, it used to be that they would pick the dog mess up, and if they didn’t have a bag, they would make their dog go on the side of the road, out of the way or at home. Why people still can’t do this, I don’t know.

“Will the flyer shock dog owners into being responsible? People don’t seem to care anymore.

“A dog trainer once told me it’s not the animals fault, it’s the owners. Dogs can be trained, just like any other animal. I had a German Shepard in the Eighties and if I could train him then everyone can train their dog.”

Fellow councillor Carole Mulroney urged anyone with evidence of dog owners leaving mess behind in public places to get in touch with Leigh Town Council.

She said: “It is an incredibly irresponsible and unpleasant thing for anyone to do. Dog mess is s situation everyone is worried about but it is the few that ruin it.

“If anyone did have evidence of dog owners leaving mess behind, they should follow proper procedures and report it to the Council.

“I would say that if someone is particularly concerned about an area, they should get in touch so we can look at the situation and assess what needs to be done.”