ST HELENS authorities are hoping to have a number of self-serve stations supplying free bags for dog mess placed at key locations to help keep the borough's parks and green spaces clean.

Stocks of the dog mess disposal bags at libraries, where they have been supplied free until now, are "running low" according to a St Helens Council spokesperson.

Dog walker Julie Ward contacted The Star after being unable to get dog bags from Peter Street Library.

The Duke Street resident said: "I just have one dog and I do buy my own bags but it's the principle: they want us to clean up after dogs but can't provide anything for us to clean up with.

"At the library I was told by staff that they can't give out any more dog bags because of cutbacks. We pay enough council tax!

"I was at Taylor Park last week and the warden wouldn't give them out either."

A spokesman for St Helens Council confirmed stocks were running low due to the plans to provide bags via the self-serve stations.

The spokesman said: "We know that the free dog bags provided by the council prove useful to many dog owners and we are looking at ways to make them more widely available - 24/7 - using self-serve stations at key locations.

"Whilst current stocks are running low across libraries, we hope to secure and install the new self-serve stations soon. Other local authorities in the Merseyside area have ceased to supply dog bags but we remain committed to providing this service, and would like to thank residents for their on-going help to keep the borough clean and tidy."

He added the council will purchase a small number of bags to supply through libraries and Wesley House while awaiting the new stations.

He said: "Residents are reminded that any bags may be used to clean up. So anyone wishing to recycle plastic carrier bags, bread bags, bags used to contain fruit and so on, may all be reused this way, and can be placed in general waste bins in addition to the specific dog ones."