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Horses at a popular seaside resort in Blackpool, England, are being forced to wear nappies following a new regulation to help clean up the streets.

The regulation was passed in June after complaints about the high levels of smelly and unsightly mess left in the horses’ wake. Officials at Blackpool Council made it a condition of the operators’ licence that all horses should be fitted with the nappies, or dung catchers, which were designed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Failing to comply with the new regulation, some operators have been warned that they may lose their licences if they do not mend their ways.  Councillor Ian Fowler, deputy leader of the council, said that a recent visit to the promenade showed many of the horses were still exposed, and leaving their mess everywhere.

“I’m extremely grateful to those landau operators who are complying with the condition of the licence and I thank them for their continued support in our efforts to clean up our town. There are however some owners who seem not to have taken on board the spirit of what we are trying to do in Blackpool, and who still insist on not fitting the manure traps correctly,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

“The council has no wish to take enforcement action against the landau operators, but we will have no alternative in the event of non-compliance,” he added. A similar warning was made last month also.

Tim Coglan, head of Blackpool’s Trading Standards team, added: “We are willing to work with the landau operators, but there are one or two that are not complying with the new rules. Operators can be fined for non-compliance, but we look to avoid that where possible.”

Coglan added: “There have been some teething problems, but ultimately if operators fail to adhere to the legislation then the matter will be referred to the council and sanctions will be placed on their licences.”