POLICE and litter wardens are set to launch a major new blitz on dog fouling in public parks.

Members of the public will be able to phone a special hotline to report the worst areas which will be patrolled by the hit squad.

Anyone failing to clean up after their pets during the blitz will be given a £50 fixed penalty notice.

The new initiative, which will cover the south of the city, will run over the next two months and will see the officers dedicate one day a week to the problem.

Community leaders hailed the drive, which they said would help solve the "persistent problem" of dog mess in the area.

Local councillor Norma Hart, who represents the Gilmerton and Liberton area, said it was a "very positive move" that she hoped would send a message to negligent pet owners.

She said: "This will hopefully be just the first step in helping to solve this problem once and for all. Local people are fed up with having to deal with dog mess in their parks, which is not only unpleasant but is also a health hazard.

"There are a number of public spaces in my ward that have been brought to my attention as problem spots. No doubt there are dozens of others across the whole of the city that are just as bad.

"These parks are not as well monitored as some of Edinburgh's other public spaces, such as the Meadows or Princes Street Gardens, and as a result they are becoming riddled with dog mess. It is only a small number of irresponsible people who are doing this, but it has huge significance for everyone else in these areas.

"Once we know where the worst areas are, we can then even look at putting CCTV cameras in to monitor them more carefully."

The drive, spearheaded by the South Edinburgh Partnership, comes just weeks after environmental wardens were criticised for issuing fewer fines for dog fouling over the past year.

Figures showed that the Capital's 32 wardens handed out just 164 penalties for dog fouling over the past year, compared to 289 fines the previous year.

Norman Work, vice-convener of the council's health, social care and housing committee, said: "Dog fouling has been raised as a particular area of concern by residents in parts of south Edinburgh.

"Accordingly, environmental wardens will be dedicating a day a week over the next six weeks to tackling the problem in this area, in conjunction with community police officers.

"Most owners recognise that dog fouling is both unsightly and poses a health hazard. However, our environmental wardens will not hesitate to take action to ensure people abide by their responsibility to pick up after their pets."

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police added: "We work closely with environmental wardens and other council services to tackle a whole range of quality of life issues in south Edinburgh and this issue is one that directly affects people's health."

• Residents in the south of the city should phone the council's hotline on 0131 529 7050 to report areas badly affected by dog mess.