Honiton club fed up of poo invading pitch.

Dogs’ mess has become the bane of committee members’ lives at Honiton Rugby Club.

A team of three are now regularly patrolling the pitch, armed with plastic bags, before games at Allhallows Playing Field.

“It’s a plague - disgusting,” said club secretary Jerry Rice.

“It is a depressing thought that, before games, three of us have to go out to check the pitch and pick the stuff up.

“I am club secretary and chief dog mess picker-upper!”

The club is appealing to dog owners using the playing field to act responsibly and clean up after their pets.

East Devon District Council has responded in a “helpful” manner to club complaints and, Mr Rice says, officials at Knowle are as fed up as club members about the problem.

“On Sundays, we sometimes have 150 children playing rugby on the field,” he said.

“People take their dogs out last thing at night when it is dark - and they can’t see the mess to pick it up.

“The problem is getting worse and we would like to dog owners to act more responsibly.”