Children at a school on the Devonshire coast have highlighted just how fed up they are with dog mess in the surrounding streets, and have spearheaded a printed campaign to target lazy owners in the area.

Those attending St Marychurch Church of England Primary and Nursery School in Torquay told the Herald Express of the posters they have created and printed, which are being displayed around the school gates to remind people to be more accountable for their pets’ calls of nature.

Co-chairman of the school council Sydney Daldry worked with pupils and members of the council – as well as community support officers – to crack down on the plague of dog mess in the area.

Karen Thomson, deputy headteacher, said: “The children have been very upset about this problem, especially as it’s around their school. They were coming to school with dogs’ mess on their shoes and decided something had to change.

“The school council took on the campaign and have learned they can take action for positive change when they all work as a team. They feel strongly it’s not the dogs who are at fault, but their owners. They are hoping people will read their posters and make some changes.”