A crackdown on nuisance dog owners at a popular Bucks beauty spot could be extended for another three years.

Burnham Beeches has been subject to a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime, and it could be extended when it runs out on December 1 this year.

If renewed, the PSPO would be in place for another three year period - and the maximum penalty for not complying with the rules is £1,000 and a criminal record.

Under the PSPO, pet owners must pick up dog poo if the canine is their responsibility.

Dogs must be on leads that are no more than five metres in length on land west of Sir Henry Peeks Drive and Halse Drive to the two fenced areas (319 square metres) and 221 square metres next to the cafe enclosure.

Dog owners must also put their pets on leads if they are asked to by an enforcement officer in areas to the east of and including Sir Henry Peeks Drive and Halse Drive.

No dogs are also allowed in the cafe enclosure and no one is allowed to take more than four dogs into Burnham Beeches at a time.

These rules have already been in place since 2014 under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and were converted into a PSPO and extended for another three years from 2017.

With that PSPO set to run out this December, the City of London Corporation, which owns Burnham Beeches, is applying to extend the strict rules once again.

Explaining why a PSPO is needed at the beauty spot, the City of London Corporation says: "Burnham Beeches is a site of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserve and Special Area of Conservation.

"It is one of Europe’s most important sites for nature conservation.

"Burnham Beeches is also a very popular visitor destination with approximately 500,000 people visits each year and around 125,000 dog visits.

"PSPOs ensure that the impact of dog walking on visitors and wildlife is balanced as far as is reasonably practicable.

"Dog walkers continue to receive an excellent level of service and over 220 hectares of beautiful landscape to walk their pets in, at little or no cost to them.

"The number of dog-related incidents reported annually has declined dramatically since the introduction of PSPOs. Annual dog numbers to Burnham Beeches remain extremely high when compared to most other sites of similar nature conservation status in the UK."

For years, City of London says it tried to encourage dog owners to be responsible on a voluntary basis, but the number of incidents was still too high.

They currently spend between £6,000 and £7,000 every year on removing dog poo alone.

Research at Burnham Beeches in 2017 also linked "urban effects" like soil nutrification and compaction to decline in health of the famous Beech trees.

If you have any comments about the PSPO being extended for another three years, you can send them to the Common Council of the City of London up until August 18.

Send them to The Superintendent, Burnham Beeches Office, Hawthorn Lane, Farnham Common, SL2 3TE, or by email to burnham.beeches@cityoflondon.gov.uk