Spanish town's giant dog dropping goes walkies

Missing in action: Police are on the trail of this three metre tall inflatable dog mess

A town in Spain is facing an unexpected bill after thieves apparently made off with a giant dog dropping being used as part of a local campaign.

Torrelodones, a municipality just outside the capital Madrid, is 2,400 euros ($2,726; £1,885) out of pocket after the three-metre high inflatable bought as part of a campaign to encourage pet-lovers to pick up after their dogs went missing, El Pais newspaper reports. The bizarre inflatable disappeared after it had been packed away in its carry-case and the police are now on the trail of the 30 kilogramme dog poop, town officials say.

Speaking to the ABC newspaper, town councillor Angel Guirao said staff were shocked and perplexed by the theft, and a replacement excrement was already on order because "we know that the campaign has been a great success".

The inflatable is not the only symbol of the municipality's "Lay an egg" campaign. Torrelodones has also left a number of concrete dog poops around the town bearing the message "This is a big blockage to living together. If you have a dog, help us". People taking the time to engage with the campaign by posting photos on social media can win "Lay an egg" T-shirts, tastefully illustrated with a picture of a hen's egg.

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