Sir, – On waking to a lovely sunny morning, I decided to go for a drive to Hamsterley Forest with my well-trained lurcher.

Such a beautiful tranquil place, be it not for mountain bikes flying round corners out of nowhere onto paths clearly marked for novices, children etc.

However, my main gripe is that there were dog-poo bags everywhere. As a responsible dog owner, I took my poo bags, picked up and walked and walked and walked, waiting to find a bin but after 30 minutes poo in one hand, picnic in the other, I, like so many others, did not fancy walking for another hour or so with poo in hand.

These are responsible people who cleaned up after their dogs but there were no bins anywhere.

So some, I assume, leave the bag intending to pick up on the way back but end up on a different route. Others probably thought, well, I did my bit, and threw it in the nearest bush.

Hamsterley Forest needs bins. Nobody can complain about poo everywhere, just poo bags. Please get some bins sorted out so we can all enjoy a nice day out in a great local spot.

It definitely is bad for tourism.

CAROLINE ALDERSON Killerby, Darlington.