TOUGH new powers to target irresponsible dog owners will come into force on all public land in the district.

Epping Forest District Council cabinet members agreed to adopt Dog Control Orders (DCOs) at a meeting on Monday.

The restrictions will make it an offence to fail to clean up dog mess on all publicly-owned land – including Epping Forest, which is owned by the City of London Corporation.

Authorised officers will also be given the power to demand dogs be put on leads and to stop people walking more than four at once.

Anyone abusing the orders could be prosecuted and face a fine of up to £1,000, or a fixed penalty notice of £75.

The move comes after a lengthy council consultation which saw the majority of the 152 respondents back the plans.

But the proposals also attracted criticism for enforcing the rules in ‘wild’ woodland areas and calls for more dog mess bins in the forest.