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Shock and outrage after large piles of poo left on County Durham bench

Sacriston residents were left shocked by 'utter filth' on a public bench. Picture: Barry Clewes
Sacriston residents were left shocked by 'utter filth' on a public bench. Picture: Barry Clewes

Residents of a village in County Durham have been left appalled at the state of a public bench after faeces was left on and around the sitting area.

Barry Clewes, a resident of Sacriston posted photos of the vandalised bench on the community social media page.

The sitting area, located on the left side of Sacriston Main Street, was built and maintained by Sacriston Parish Council and is usually both well kept and well used by the community.

However, residents were shocked to see the state that it had been left in on Thursday, as a large quantity of faecal matter had been deposited on and around the bench.

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The Northern Echo: Excrement was both on and around the public bench. Picture: Barry Clewes
The Northern Echo: Excrement was both on and around the public bench. Picture: Barry Clewes

Excrement was both on and around the public bench. Picture: Barry Clewes

Mr Clewes said: "I was walking down Sacriston Main Street, and this is what I saw! The council has built this nice little sitting area, but some dirty so-and-so has done this on purpose."

Questions have been raised as to whether the waste is from a dog, or from a human. When asked whether it could be human excrement, Mr Clewes said: "Yeah, I do think that is a possibility."

In any case, residents have been horrified at the destruction of their sitting area.

One woman called it "utter filth", with another saying the act of vandalism was "minging".

Sacriston residents have remarked that dog fouling has been an issue for the village in recent months - though they have never seen anything quite like this.

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"People have let their dogs poo down on the park, just leaving it where the dog has dropped it and just walking away."

Durham County Council does hand out £100 fixed penalty notices to dog owners who fail to pick up after their pet. To report any dog fouling issues, call Durham County Council 03000 260000.

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