We are writing to you in desperation as there is so much dog mess on the footpaths around our school.

Many of us go on weekly walks into the surrounding countryside with our teachers in order to learn about our environment and wildlife.

However, every time we go on one of our sessions we find lots of dog mess on the paths and nearby fields, where irresponsible adults have taken their dogs for a walk and toilet stop.

Even where someone has put it into a plastic bag, the bag has just been dumped into the hedge, often partly split open. Dog fouling is messy, inconsiderate and carries diseases.

Particularly affected are the tracks that go to the nearby allotments along Gipsy Patch, and track to Broadway Farm and the Wessex Ridgeway path towards Etchilhampton.

When we are on our wildlife walks we often explore the hedges, looking for insects and plants, but too often we end up facing piles of dog mess. It makes our wildlife sessions messy and potentially dangerous.

Through your paper can we please ask everyone who takes their dogs for a walk in the area around our school to take their dog mess with them.

The Reception pupils of Pluto class, Nursteed Community School, Brickley Lane, Devizes.