Dog owners have been warned they could be prosecuted for not picking up after their animals at a Helston beauty spot and that cameras might have to be installed.

The park team at Coronation Park were forced to spend two hours one day this week picking up dog mess that was left "throughout the park".

Park keeper Alan, who was joined by regular volunteer Nigel for the unpleasant task, said it was not the first time that they had fallen foul of dog mess.

He said: "We do our utmost to ensure there are poop bags for owners to use and bins are emptied but spending two hours clearing the park of dog mess is extremely frustrating and taking us away from more important tasks.

"Apart from kneeling in it when installing Christmas lights, for you to enjoy, and standing in it when replacing broken fence posts, for your safety, it is just unsightly, unhealthy and unnecessary. Please look up diseases that can be caught from animal faeces.

"I do not want to go down the route of installing a camera but I will if necessary and evidence will be used to issue fines."

He added that not picking up after a dog was a prosecutable offence under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.

Since the running of the park was taken over by the South Kerrier Alliance, in May 2018, a number of improvements have been made including the employment of a park keeper.

Most recently an aerator fountain was added to the centre of the lake, to keep the water moving in a bid to reduce the annual issue of algal bloom.

A lack of movement in the water, combined with higher temperatures during the summer, can cause the bloom, leaving a layer of green over large areas of the lake.

The park team said of the aerator: "We are hoping this might help slow down the algal growth and minimise the bloom size, but in the meantime it provides a lovely focal point in the lake and the bird life are enjoying having their own personal shower!"