OFFICIALS at Wellington Cricket Club have said they are getting fed-up with dog owners who fail to pick up the poo left by their pets on the sports pitch.

Club president Simon Spalding and chairman Mark Salter were asked about the problem of dog mess when they attended Wellington Town Council’s annual parish meeting on May 29.

Mr Salter said: “We need to emphasise that we’re talking about a sports pitch and it’s not helpful when we come along to play cricket and we find dog poo all over it.

“We’ve been there getting a wicket ready for a game and we’ve seen people come through the gate and let their dogs off the lead who then go and run all over the place and the people just stand and watch.”

The club representatives were at the meeting to thank the council for its continued grant support for youth cricket training sessions at Court Fields.

People heard that anywhere in the region of 100 children attend the cricket sessions and they have proved a good way of introducing young people to the sport.

“The most important thing is to get the children outside and running around,” said Mr Salter. “It’s good for their mental health.”

Mr Spalding said that around four or five of the club’s current men’s first team – including skipper Arron Campbell – had come through the youth set-up.

The council’s funding helps to pay for the hire of the facilities at Court Fields for the youth training sessions.