Park users have hit out at irresponsible dog owners for making a mess.

Valerie Culkeen walks her three dogs daily in Oak Hill Park, in East Barnet – but says others are ruining the park by failing to clean up after their mutts.

The 68-year-old, of Berkley Crescent, New Barnet, said: “It’s such a lovely park. We are very lucky to have a park like this in our area, but it’s such a shame people don’t respect it. Lately it just seems to be getting worse.

“It’s all over the park. People don’t seem to do anything about it. There are plenty of bins to put it in.”

A former care worker, who has lived in the area all her life, said her biggest concern was for children using the park.

Mrs Culkeen said: “There is a lot of mess around, which is awful, especially for the young children. How can you stop them? Perhaps there ought to be more signs. It would be nice if people bothered to pick it up.

“Surely you have got to think of children and toddlers running about. A local school had a sports day here. They had to come and clear a patch just to hold it.

“It does make me angry to see it.”

Jennifer Grocock, 45, of Rosyln Avenue, East Barnet, said: “I use the park three or four times a day to walk the dog and baby. There is a prevalence of dog mess which is not picked up and collected by responsible owners.

“It’s not nice for young children, and it’s nice for other park users. People need to be aware they are responsible. It spoils it for everyone. A bit of education would not go amiss.”