SIGNATURES are building up at a rapid pace in support of young footballers' calls for something to be done about their park's dog poo problem. Members of the under-8s squad at Shrublands Junior Football Club hit the market place at Great Yarmouth to raise support for their campaign to keep the pitches at Southtown Common muck-free.

SIGNATURES are building up at a rapid pace in support of young footballers' calls for something to be done about their park's dog poo problem.

Members of the under-8s squad at Shrublands Junior Football Club hit the market place at Great Yarmouth to raise support for their campaign to keep the pitches at Southtown Common muck-free.

And their accompanying manager Darren Clements estimated that well over 300 passers-by had backed their calls for something to be done.

He said: “We filled 11 sheets worth of the petition to make it 17 sheets for our group in total, and generally people were really supportive of what we were doing. I was out there for less than an hour and a half with the children and some of the parents when it started raining, but we got a really good response generally.”

Mr Clements, who is a caretaker at Southtown First School, said that the children's efforts had struck a chord with many who were unsatisfied with their own parks locally.

He also said they had also talked to a number of tourists who had noticed the presence of such mess on their visits to the area.

“In doing this we're trying to prove that we're not the only ones unhappy with the state of the park, and that others aren't prepared to put up with it either.

“We want the council to address the issue and consider our suggestions, like adding more specific bins, locking up the park at dusk and increasing the presence of signs.”

The petitions follow growing concern about a problem that has left parents and coaches spending considerable time clearing up pitches before the young players start their matches, and fears of children catching diseases from the muck.

As well as a Facebook group, which has attracted more than 180 members, various other petitions backing the clear-up campaign are being circulated by the football club in conjunction with the one brought to Yarmouth's market place.

Though unsure of how well the other petitions were doing, Mr Clements said his group would be going to collect more signatures in Gorleston tomorrow.

He also speculated on the possibility that more than 1,000 voices of support could eventually be handed over when the petitions are presented to the council later this April.

Julie Medliecott, 40, works at Deano's Market Chips on the market place. She said: “A number of the girls here signed the petition and I back it entirely. I thought it was such a shame what is going on with the dog mess - there's no need for it.”