So, autumn is here once again, and the traditional sights greet us once more with the turning of the leaves, the darker evenings, and, of course, dogs back on our beaches.

Now there is no issue which appears to divide readers of the Packet quite like this one, with the two camps firmly at loggerheads.

You have your dog-lovers, who believe their pets can do no wrong in any circumstances, while you also have your canine-haters, who believe every dog out there from pitbull to chihuahua is a potential killer.

For them, dogs should not be allowed onto the beaches at any time of year, with the mess they leave behind and the fear they instill into some people being a more than good enough reason for a year-long ban. For others, they should be allowed on the beaches all year, and are only banned to appease a vocal minority. Now I must confess to being a dog-owner myself, but would hope I fall into a more objective category.

I understand the summer ban - when the beach is packed with tourists who wants a dog running around causing mayhem.

However, what reason can there be for stopping dogs from using the near-deserted beaches each winter.

Whichever way you look at it, one thing is for sure - any mess the dogs may leave behind this winter will not smell as badly as the seaweed that has been on the beaches all through the summer.