Walking to school has become a battle for Barnes students as they face dodging their way through a minefield of dog poo to get there.

The amount of faeces has become such a concern Lowther Primary School’s parents, teachers and students launched a campaign urging Richmond Council to impose a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against those failing to clean up after their pets.

Fern Gray, one of the campaign’s leaders, said it was time Richmond took action to tackle the menace of dog fouling.

She said: "My little girl goes to Lowther Primary School. She loves going to Lowther, but what she doesn’t like is having to be extremely mindful and careful every morning and afternoon not to walk or scooter through dog foul.”

The annoyed mother added dog fouling was not just a nuisance but also a danger, because young children could catch serious illnesses such as toxocariasis (round worm infection) from contact with it.

She added: “Everyday the footpaths in Richmond are littered with dog mess which is hazardous to children on scooters, bicycles, foot and baby strollers and this is undoubtedly being carried into our schools.”

Lowther headmaster Mark Tuffney said North Barnes residents had always been very proud of how they worked together as a community.

He said: “The children and families of Lowther Primary School are fully behind trying to make our local streets cleaner. Dogs are cute but their poo is not.”

And Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith added: “I have always been a dog lover, but it is horrendously antisocial to leave dog’s mess on pavements, and I support this great new campaign to prevent it happening in our community.”

The petition, on the council website, asks people to show support for the idea of an effective ‘zero tolerance’ policy against littering of dog litter bags and fouling.

It calls for additional signage of fixed penalty notices, installation of dog foul bins by green grass spaces, the issuing of free dog litter bags, and introduction of a major 'enforcement awareness campaign'.

When the petition reaches 1,000 signatures a debate will be triggered at full council.

A Richmond Council spokesman said: Councillor Virginia Morris, Richmond Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “Dog fouling is unneighbourly and individuals must take responsibility for clearing up after their pets, as off-putting as this may be.

“The council already operates a zero tolerance policy on dog fouling – we will issue penalty tickets to anyone who our officers see failing to pick up after their dog. Our people are on the streets daily, but clearly it would never be possible for us to monitor every dog walker in the borough. I would urge all dog walkers to remember how dangerous dog faeces can be to children, and how unsightly it is, and to pick up after their pet.”

Targeted anti dog fouling patrols are carried out where residents alert the council to a specific problem area, and responsible pet ownership leaflets are distributed to remind people of their responsibilities and the law.

It is illegal not to pick up after a dog, and residents can ultimately be prosecuted under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

To sign the petition visit richmond.gov.uk.