Taiwan dog poo lottery proves a 'big success'

A Taiwanese city is keeping dog mess off its streets by offering prizes to owners who clear up after their pets.

Officials in New Taipei City say that more than 4,000 people have collected 14,500 bags of excrement. For each bag they turned in, they were given a lottery ticket.

A woman in her 50s won the top prize - a gold ingot worth $2,200 (£1,400).

The scheme was due to end in October, but officials said it had been so successful it had been extended.

The BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei says that it has been credited with halving the amount of dog mess in the city, which is near the capital.    More Read