OWNERS are being urged to keep their dogs on leads to stop them messing up Mistley’s sports pitches.

Mistley Parish Council wants dog walkers to heed signs asking owners to keep their pets on leads and clean up after them on the recreation ground, off Furze Hill.

The grounds include pitches used by Mistley rugby and football clubs.

Councillor Jenny Chaplin said: “There are concerns about the amount of dogs on Furze Hill which are being let off the leads and then running across the football and rugby pitches.

“It seems to me that owners are not seeing the signs, which say they are not supposed to go over there with their dogs.

Chairman Martin Rayner suggested installing a mesh fence in the nearby car park to stop dogs running off.