A resident in Lyme Regis says she is ‘disgusted’ by the amount of dog fouling at a local cemetery and has compared it to the dog show ‘Crufts’.

Diana Hunt attended the Lyme Regis Town Council meeting on Wednesday night to voice her concerns.

She said: “I would like to address the concern I have about the amount of dog fouling at the local cemetery (Charmouth Road).

“If you’re there early enough in the morning, honestly it looks like Crufts.

“This is a burial ground and it’s no place for dogs.

“Spare a thought for the mourners, undertakers and council workers who cut the grass.”

She added: “Another place of concern is the churchyard at the back of the parish church (St Michael’s).

“When I approach a member of the council to request some fencing at the cemetery (Charmouth Road) I was fobbed off for the excuse that there’s no available money and judging by the variety of causes the council chucks money at, I found that hard to believe.

“This town is seriously lacking in its own dog warden not someone who has to do a variety of other tasks or someone who comes from Weymouth.

“Now this problem is in the limelight can we ask for a few more signs to address the problem for what it really is, and it’s only going to get worse.

“Is it not the time for the council thought about the good of the town long term instead of funding bottomless pit projects?”

Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Brian Larcombe, responded: “Members are equally appalled at any defecation on graves of personal and loved ones.

“There’s nothing worse in my mind than the sight of that.

“We’re actively looking at this. I don’t know which councillor said that to you, but that’s not the position of the council.

“We’re in the process of putting a gate at the entrance to the cemetery off Elizabeth Close because we know dogs are wandering in off the lead through that area, that’s going to be done. I’ve asked for fencing to be put along the top. I’ve also asked councillors to consider putting fencing down either side of the footpath because at the moment, they’re legally allowed to be walked through there on leads. Unless that order gets changed all we can suggest is the kind of fencing I put forward earlier.”

He added: “This is still a work in progress, we’re trying to find the right answers. But believe me it’s of concern to this council and it’s not about the money on this particular item.

“It’s more about what’s the best way of dealing with what’s a very terrible problem.”