A CAMPAIGN to promote responsible dog ownership is taking place in an area of Seaham.

Durham County Council’s Civic Pride team is organising the effort and will be staging various events, including a free microchipping session for people from all over the county, in the Dene House Road area.

The campaign will run until Tuesday, 17 March and includes the Civic Pride team visiting St Mary Magdalen Primary School with Scoop the Dog, the council’s responsible dog owner mascot.

Large temporary tri-signs have also been put up around the Dene House Road estate advising people how to report irresponsible dog owners.

Stray Action for Dogs is holding a free microchipping event St Mary Magdalen's Church Hall, Harbour Walk, Seaham, from 11am to 2pm on Friday, March 6.

Dogs must be aged over 12 weeks with up-to-date injections and owners must be able to provide evidence of residency in the county - for example a utility bill with their name and address on.

Durham County Council civic pride officer Pauline Walker said: “This latest campaign is partly in response to the public consultation we held last year, which resulted in dogs continuing to be allowed on Seaham’s beaches all year round.

“It is also because residents continue to report dog fouling and our aim is to tackle this issue."