The decision to remove a controversial sign banning dog walkers from the grounds of Rhyl High has been hailed as “victory for common sense”.

The decision follows last week's Journal front-page story about 71-year-old Jim McCaughey being slapped with a £100 penalty for walking his dog after he failed to spot the sign, which had been placed eight-feet high on a lamp-post, six feet from the Grange Road entrance..

Denbighshire County Council (DCC) has now reopened the school’s grounds for dog walkers and also tightened rules for enforcement firm Kingdom Security.

Mr McCaughey’s fine has now been revoked and he said: “Justice has triumphed. It is a victory for common sense and dog walkers everywhere.”

Town and county councillor Brian Blakeley, whose town authority ward is Tynewydd, where the incident happened, said: “Common sense has prevailed."

The fine came as a part of DCC’s public spaces protection order, which has seen about 600 notices relating to dog walking and fouling across Denbighshire in recent months.

In a notice posted by cllr Blakeley, senior public protection officer Tim Wynne-Evans explained that the decision to remove the sign followed confirmation of the existence of two rights of way through the school grounds.

Mr Wynne-Evans stated: “I have contacted the headteacher at the school and explained the situation to her.

"After some consideration, she requested that the school be excluded from the prohibition of dogs enforcement on the site."

“That notice will be withdrawn due to the fresh evidence of the existence of the “right of way”. One person had been advised about the dog prohibition.”

Mr McCaughey said: “It’s a wonderful result and I’m very pleased with what we’ve achieved without having to go through the palaver of going to court.”

The complaint that there were not enough signs prohibiting dogs at the school and that the sole warning was too small and difficult to see, has led to a tightening of rules in enforcing penalties.

Mr Wynne-Evans' statement added: “If a person claims not to have seen a sign warning them of the prohibition of dogs on the beach or that a dog must be on a lead officers will take the person to the nearest sign and point it out to them to ensure that that person will be fully aware of the regulation for the future.”

Kingdom personnel must also now record evidence that sufficient assistance has been given.