Dog walking restrictions in hundreds of areas across London

Dog walking is not allowed in 219 places in London, and not all of them are signposted, according to the Manifesto Club.

Though dogs are banned from children's playgrounds and sports fields due to health risks caused by their mess and the possibility of attacks, councils are also allowed to designate parks and open spaces as Dog Exclusion Zones under the Dog Control Order Regulations 2006.

It has been uncovered that people may receive up to £80 in fines for straying within the boundaries of one of these zones, or by walking in certain areas with their dog off the lead.

Boundaries have now been drawn up on a special map by the the Libertarian group, which shows altogether 435 areas in London where certain activities are illegal, including dog walking.

A total of 56 fines were made to dog walkers in these zones last year.

Director of the Manifesto Club, Josie Appleton, said: "At the very least, these zones should all be marked: it is fundamentally unfair that people could be punished for offences they did not know they were committing."