LITTERBUGS and irresponsible dog owners were targeted in a weeklong blitz carried out by a specialist task force.

Cumnock and New Cumnock councillor Jim McMahon joined the council’s Corporate Enforcement Unit (CEU) in town centres and green spaces across the area.

On the list was Dumfries House, where they carried out patrols, spoke to dog walkers and handed out free dog waste bags.

Mr McMahon said: “The CEU visited every town in East Ayrshire during the week long initiative.

“They focused on the most common environmental issues like littering, fly tipping and dog fouling but also took the time to patrol our beautiful green spaces.

“Ideally we don’t want to be issuing fixed penalty notices; we want people to just pick up after themselves, and their dogs, without the fear of an £80 fine.

“However until we reach that goal, we will continue to educate, advise and when we have to, carry out enforcement activity.

“Litter and fly tipping is a crime and the council takes a zero tolerance approach towards all environmental crime.

“The CEU will continue to ensure that our beautiful countryside is kept that way.”

Overall, the CEU met more than 200 people and issued seven fixed penalty notices for littering, five for dropping litter and one £200 notice for fly tipping.