Dog control orders planned for Merton's parks have had to be postponed because the council took so long to act the legislation expired.

Cabinet members were due to vote on orders to limit dogs to four per person in large parks at a meeting last week, in response to a public consultation in 2012.

They were also due to consider introducing control orders authorising police and council officers to direct walkers to put a dog on a lead if it is seen to be intimidating people or other animals.

But the item was struck off the agenda at the last minute when councillors discovered local authorities were no longer allowed to make Dog Control Orders from October 20 this year.

Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration, said: "The council will now be looking to make a Public Space Protection Order under the new legislation to deal with problems associated with dogs and multiple dog walking as soon as it can."

The issue was raised after the council received an increasing number of complaints from dog owners saying their dogs are being attacked in parks by rampaging dogs whose owners have no control over them.

Darren Stillwell, of Friends of Mitcham Common, said: "We are disappointed with the lack of action on Dog Control Orders by Merton Council to ensure both owners and professional dog walkers have control of their dogs when they are on the Common.

"There have been increasing numbers of complaints to the friends about people using the common with large numbers of dogs, or walking dogs that are clearly out of control.

"This can be intimidating to others and cause huge problems to the wildlife of the common. For example, last year a cygnet was savaged by an out-of-control dog on Seven Islands Pond."

The council is now waiting to hear from the Home Office if it has to carry out a new consultation with the police and Mayor of London, or will be allowed to rely on the old one.

Councillor David Simpson, Merton Conservatives community safety and enforcement spokesman, said: "Most dog walkers behave responsibly but the council must tackle the minority that don’t.

"It is regrettable that it has taken so long for Labour to take action. The consultation took place in 2012 yet Labour has sat on the report."

Coun Judge put the delay down to equivocal consultation results and increased pressure on the Greenspaces service, with reduced Government funding funnelled to other areas, such as littering in parks.

He added: "We were not expecting them to end Dog Control Orders in the way that they have."