AN 83-year-old woman was left unable to dress herself and in constant pain after slipping on a ‘huge pile’ of dog ‘muck’ in Wigton.

Ellen Scaife was walking to a pensioners’ coffee morning in Wigton when she slipped on a pile of dog excrement.

As a result of the fall, Ellen was left with broken ribs, bad bruising and has been in constant pain ever since.

“I just nipped into B&M for some milk and before I knew it, I was on the floor,” said Ellen.

“I had slipped on this huge pile of dog muck, and I was out for the count.

“People stopped and phoned the ambulance to come for me and I broke ribs, I was badly bruised, and my back is in a lot of pain at the moment.

“I couldn’t do anything. I haven’t been able to do my housework, and I couldn't even dress myself. My friend had to dress me, and I don't know what I would have done without her.”

Ellen said that dog fouling is something the town has an issue with more widely.

“The first time I went back out, my friend took me in the car down to the coffee morning,” said Ellen.

“This was after about five weeks, and I got stepped out of the car and there was the same dog muck there on the car park.

“There’s dog muck all over Wigton - it’s disgraceful.”

Ellen’s friend, Valerie Pitt, put in a complaint to the council. “I went to the council, and I did get an email saying that they'd noted my complaint, but nothing was done,” said Ms Pitt.

“That dog muck was still there on that pavement six weeks later and it had dried solid. 

“A lot of older people go up and down that street, because that's where all the pensioners’ clubs are and I mean it could have killed someone in their 90s.

“Ellen is 83 and look what it did to her.”

A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: “We are very disappointed to hear of Ellen's fall and wish her a speedy recovery. This incident serves as a timely reminder of the importance of responsible dog ownership. Not cleaning up after your dog can lead to prosecution, and Cumberland Council is committed to tackling such antisocial behaviour.

READ MORE: Cumberland council issue reminder to dog walkers to 'scoop that poop'

“Our Enforcement Officers take a proactive approach in addressing issues like dog fouling, graffiti, and littering. This includes the use of fixed penalty notices for those caught violating the rules. As part of our efforts, we have launched the 'Scoop that Poop' campaign to encourage responsible dog ownership and ensure that people pick up after their pets.

“Recently, the Council Executive approved a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the Cumberland area. The PSPO will be enforced consistently based on four key principles: Engage, Educate, Explain, and Enforce. Our officers have already been active in areas such as Wigton, conducting enforcement visits in May and scheduling regular follow-ups to maintain high standards.

“We will continue our visits across all parts of Cumberland to educate the public and enforce these rules when necessary. Remember, failing to clean up after your dog not only poses risks to the community but could also lead to serious legal consequences.”