Dog walkers in Teignbridge must use fixed leads no more than one metre long in some places from today (Friday 1 April), the district council has said.

The rule only applies when walking your dog on roads, footpaths, and cycle tracks, and not in parks or on beaches.

It comes as part of the new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for dogs, which also includes banning dogs from certain beaches between 1 April and 30 September and picking up dog faeces.

If you ignore the order, you can face a fine of £100 on the spot or up to £1,000 in court.

The decision to have the maximum dog lead length halved from two metres was made by councillors in February this year.

A spokesperson for Teignbridge District Council said: "The PSPO aims to encourage responsible dog ownership and make Teignbridge an even cleaner and greener place.

"From today, the reduction of the lead length from two metres to a one metre fixed lead applies when walking your dog on a public highway, a footway, footpath or cycle track."

The PSPO has been extended to last until 31 March 2025.

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