Irresponsible pet owners have been accused of insulting the memory of brave sailors and marines by turning a memorial into a dog's toilet.

Now Dartmouth Royal Naval Association member Mitch Mitchell is out to shame the dog owners who are allowing their pets to foul the embankment memorial to the former Royal Navy sailors, Royal Marines and merchant navy sailors who have died since the Second World War.

The stone was set up by the association opposite the South Embankment some 10 years ago as a memorial to 'all the shipmates who have crossed the bar'.

Over the last fortnight Mr Mitchell has cleared away dog mess from the memorial itself as well as the surrounding flowerbeds.

'It is an insult to the memory of these people. I think all our members would feel the same and be very upset,' he said.

'I want to make the owners aware of what they are doing and perhaps make them feel ashamed.'

Mr Mitchell said some weeks ago he and members of the Dartmouth in Bloom Committee had worked on improving the memorial and the area around it.

But over the last fortnight he has had to clear dog mess away from the memorial on several occasions.

'We are getting very annoyed at the irresponsible way dog owners are allowing this to happen.'