AN ELDERLY dog walker from Burnham-on-Sea was fined £200 for failing to clean up his pet's mess in a grassy area at Apex Park.

Police were called after Bryan Cooper, 70, refused to identify himself to Sedgemoor District Council's dog warden after the incident.

The defiant dog owner, of Highbridge Road, represented himself in court before Sedgemoor magistrates and pleaded not guilty, claiming it was not his dog that fouled the area.

Council spokeswoman Claire Faun said: "Compelling evidence from the dog warden proved that Mr Cooper's dog was responsible for the offence.

"He was found guilty and given a conditional discharge, and ordered to pay £200 costs to the council." The council has a zero tolerance of dog fouling.

People caught failing to remove their dog's mess from a public place will be challenged, resulting in a fine or prosecution.

The incident took place on September 29 last year and brought to court on June 28 by the council's Environment Protection Unit.