A Gifford man has been left "horrified" after discovering more than 50 dog poo bags in his garden hedge.

Colin Stothard, 69, has lived on Station Road for 22 years. His home sits beside Gifford Community Woodland where dog walkers regularly visit.

He said that the lack of a bin at the start of the woodland has resulted in many people throwing dog poo bags into his garden.

On Sunday, Colin, who turns 70 next week, recovered more than 50 bags from the hedges around his garden.

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He said: “This has been a problem here for years and I can’t believe how many bags I recovered on Sunday.

“It is absolutely disgusting and I was left horrified at the number I picked up.

“My house is pretty much the last one before you go into the woodlands and I think people must think it is the local public bin!

“I love dogs [but don't own one] and I love that people are out taking them for walks but I find it horrible that some people are using my garden to dump rubbish.”

Retired packaging consultant Colin said it was not healthy for him to have to go through his bushes to clear out dog mess.

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He said: “I’m very able and fit. I am capable of clearing the mess. But I shouldn’t have to and it is not healthy for me to be rummaging through dirt.

“It has been going on for years now and I have to clear bags weekly. It is normally about three a week thrown in the garden but it is sometimes more.

“I’d like a bin to be installed next to the woodland. That way people have somewhere to put the bags rather than having to either take them home or dump them.

“People are at least going to the trouble of picking up the mess but are just dumping the bags in my garden.”

Adam White, chair of Gifford Community Council, said the community council would write to East Lothian Council to ask for a bin to be installed by the woodland.

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He said: “I think it was disgusting to have seen so many bags found in the hedges of one of our local residents.

“It is one thing to leave the poo lying on the side of the road but to go to the trouble of picking it up and then disposing of it by throwing it into someone’s garden is horrible.

“We are hoping to try and get a bin installed at the end of Station Road where people can dispose of their rubbish rather than having to take it home. Hopefully this will solve the issue.

“This hasn’t really been an issue for us in Gifford - we’ve not had an incident like this for a while. I am sure the council will help and hopefully solve the problem.”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: "We have been contacted by a concerned Gifford resident requesting bins to be sited for dog waste and other litter.

"Officers are currently assessing the request which would of course also require resources for regular servicing of additional bins."