Radio Devon live reporting 21 April

A row has broken out in east Devon about dogs and their owners allegedly apparently breaking social distancing rules.

Cranbrook Town Council put up notices on social media stating it was mandatory that people kept their dogs on leads and said a ranger would be checking on them.

It said it had received “many complaints” from individuals who classed themselves as vulnerable about the “lack of social distancing when dogs off leads run up to them and the owners have to retrieve their pets”.

But that upset some dog owners, who said the council did not have legal grounds to enforce any ban.

They also said they were being unfairly targeted as other walkers and runners had been ignoring regulations as well.

The council apologised for its initial post, saying it was “trying to make sense of a difficult and extraordinary situation and sometimes we get it wrong”.

But it has still called for people to abide by social distancing rules.