HELENSBURGH'S dog owners might be cleaning up after their pets – but what they do with the mess afterwards is creating a major headache for council workers.

A meeting in the town last week was told that while dog owners were apparently being conscientious in putting their dog poo in bags rather than leaving it on the pavement, a growing number are putting the bags down drain covers rather than depositing them in the nearest bin.

Members of Argyll and Bute Council's Helensburgh and Lomond area committee discussed the issue when they met in the town's new civic centre on August 9.

Local councillor Ellen Morton said: “I created a tremendous fuss last year about two streets where the gully was permanently blocked, and was assured it had been cleared.

“The problem was dog owners lifting their dog mess into blue bags and then dropping the bags down the stanks, blocking the gullies.

“I find it horrendous that people would be so irresponsible as to do that while pretending they're being good citizens.

“It's an indication that officers are dealing with problems that would never occur to the rest of us.”

Kevin McIntosh, the council's local roads performance manager, replied: “It never ceases to amaze us what finds its way into our water courses and gullies.”

Questioned by Lomond North councillor Maurice Corry, Mr McIntosh said the council had two gully-cleaning vehicles to cover the whole of the local authority area, and that each area was visited once a year.

“More could be considered,” he said, “but our resources are limited, and our gully-cleaning vehicles are sometimes taken away to deal with major problems that threaten aspects of our road network.”

To report an instance of a dog owner failing to clean up after his or her pet, call Argyll and Bute Council on 01546 605514.