Ammon News - Dog walkers have been slated by staff working at the Queen’s Balmoral Castle for leaving dog poo bags all over the estate.

Up to twenty bags were left on the land in Aberdeenshire, with frustrated staff at the beauty spot asking: ‘Why do people do this?’

Balmoral posted pictures of the litter on Twitter, which saw scores of people slamming the dog walkers for being ‘stupid and selfish’.

One claimed the people who dumped the dog bags ‘never learn’, while another said they ‘don’t have respect for nature’.

One added: ‘Unfortunately one of the lessons of lockdown has been a sad realisation that there are a significant number of dog owners who believe it’s someone else’s job to clean up after them.’

Andy Coleman, who runs the dogfoul.org website, is adamant there has been an increase in dog litter not being picked up across the UK during lockdown.

He said: ‘The three to eight per cent of dog owners that are irresponsible tarnish the image of all dog owners.

‘Their actions not only cause social grievance, they impact on the natural environment, the enjoyment of parks and open spaces – as well as causing serious health risks due to the bacteria that can be found in them.’

Andy puts it down to the fact that there are fewer people outside during lockdown so the dog owners don’t feel like they are being watched.

He said: ‘The irresponsible dog owners feel safe in the knowledge that there are less people potentially watching them and therefore simply do not bother picking up after their dogs.’

*METRO