DOGS have been blamed for damaging play equipment in Huddersfield parks.

And the havoc wreaked by “irresponsible” dog owners was hailed as another reason to support a ban on them from children’s play areas.

A Huddersfield councillor revealed an astonishing statistic – 150 swing seats have been chewed up by dogs over the past five years, at a cost to the local taxpayer of more than £10,000.

Owners have been using the swings to strengthen the jaws of their dogs – tough-looking breeds which are often used as “status symbols”.

The damage was revealed by Clr Christine Stanfield, who has welcomed the news that Kirklees Council is considering a package of measures to ban dogs from play areas.

The new Dog Control Orders are to be debated by the council’s cabinet on Tuesday and will then be put out for public consultation.

Clr Stanfield, herself a dog-owner, said: “I am particularly pleased about the proposed ban on dogs in children’s play areas, not only for the health and safety of children but because of the damage.