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Dogs will be banned from play areas and artificial pitches in Lisburn and Castlereagh from next month.

The new rules are effective from December 1, and include a seasonal ban on all playing fields in the council area.

Owners who ignore the council's dog control orders could face a £1000 fine.

Sally Courtney, Lisburn and Castlereagh environmental health officer, said the council had been getting constant complaints of dog fouling on sport fields.

She said: "We had children going out to play football, adults going out to play football and facing the dog fouling - obviously there's a health concern with somebody sliding onto dog mess."

Access to most playing fields will be restricted from May 1 to August 31.

Mrs Courtney said: "We were quite keen that our facilities are facilities that everybody can use and that they still remain shared spaced which is why the vast majority of pitches we have made the dog control seasonal."

Permanent bans will cover Kirkwoods Road Playing Fields, Lough Moss Playing Field, Glenmore Playing Fields and Billy Neill pitches 4, 6 and 7 as well as play areas, Multi Use Game Areas, artificial pitches, bowling greens, tennis courts and golf courses.

Dogs must be kept on leads in cemeteries, burial grounds and caravan parks in the council area.

Signs will be put up in areas where dog access is restricted.

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