A pet shop owner from Radstock is warning other dog owners to keep an eye on their pooches after her pets fell ill after walks along the cycle path between Kilmersdon and Mells.

Caroline Selway, who owns Pets Choice in Radstock, said that her dogs suffered bouts of sickness and diarrhoea after walking along the route, which is popular with dog walkers.

Concerned that the dogs could have been poisoned Ms Selway took the pets to Silva House veterinary surgery in Midsomer Norton.

The vet told Ms Selway that he believed that it was unlikely that the dogs had been poisoned, but said that they could have contracted a bacterial infection from something along the way.

Ms Selway said: "It has happened on three separate occasions and it was only the most recent time that we made the connection.

"I am not sure what is causing them to get sick if it is something in the water along there or if there is something being dumped that is poisoning them."

Ms Selway decided to contact the Somerset Guardian after several customers in the shop also reported that their dogs had suffered from similar symptoms after walking the same route.

The veterinary practice said, although they had not seen an unusual rise in dog sickness, that they advise anyone with any serious concerns to contact a vet.

Caroline had been walking her dogs past the concrete works near Mells down the private road and then onto the cycle path towards Great Elm.

The incident has been reported to the Environment Agency.