I want to commend the gentleman who dealt with dog mess on Oak Hill (between Woodford Green and Loughton), which had nothing to do with himself.

It was midday and hordes of adults and children were walking up the pavement, which is where the mess was, to watch the Tour de France.

One brave gentleman challenged the owner of the dog – a teenager who said he was going to get a bag but didn’t.

The second man, on hearing of this and not even seeing it, got straight into ac-tion, not wanting it to be stepped in by anyone.

This is what I call a success story, related to the Tour.

But please dog owners, pick up the mess yourselves.

What happened gives dog owners in general a bad name.

It is totally irresponsible and is an off-ence.

Name and address supplied, Woodford Green.