COMMUNITY campaigners can expect to see many more anti-dog fouling messages in their towns.

Criticism has been thrown at the local authority over the sparseness of their spray painting since the clean-up initiative was launched last month.

In Selkirk only four messages have been sprayed - all on the same street.

And only a handful of paths in Galashiels have so far warranted the messages.

Selkirk campaigner Doug Purves told us: "This is a great idea to make people think about picking up after their dog but there needs to be a lot more of them.

"Dog fouling is a problem across Selkirk, not just in Linglie Road where the messages have been sprayed."

Staff from the local authority's Neighbourhood Services have targeted well-known hot spots with their first round of paintwork.

But they have vowed to continue leaving messages on any street or park where poo continues to be a problem.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson told the Border Telegraph: “The stencils are being spray-painted only in areas which we know are blackspots for dog fouling. The stencils use chalk-based paint which means they are temporary.

“The stencil kits have only recently been issued to Neighbourhood Services staff across the Borders, with the ‘clean it up’ message appearing in other blackspot areas in the coming weeks.”