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A London council is tackling the scourge of dog mess - by painting it pink.

Camden council says it is spraying excrement pink to "embarrass" dog walkers who do not clean up after their pets.

Officials say dog poo is one of the biggest concerns of residents, who are now being offered cans of paint if they spot the mess and complain.

Camden's cabinet member for the environment, Sally Gimson, admitted nothing would be done to clean up the mess once it was sprayed, but said she hoped the measure would deter people from leaving it on the ground in the future.

She told the Standard: "One of the biggest concerns for our residents is dog poo, and we have lots of initiatives to fine people whose dogs foul in the street.

"To highlight the problem people can spray the poo pink. It highlights that people have done it and it shows people care about it happening.

She added: "It's about embarrassing the people who aren't picking up the poo after their dogs.

"The whole point is really to embarrass dog owners who are doing it to say 'we have noticed you've done it and you shouldn't be doing it'."

Other councils in the UK are believed to have used the tactic but Camden says it is the first London borough to try it.