A RENFREWSHIRE priest's bizarre threat to poison dogs outside a church has been dismissed as "banter" by his bosses.

Father Vincent Byrne was filmed outside St Columba’s RC Church, in Renfrew, earlier this week claiming that dogwalkers had been trespassing in the private car park.

In a video shared on social media, he said it would be a "good side effect" if dogs died from the poison he was intending to put down.

However, the Diocese of Paisley said the clergyman's comments were "intended to be humorous, which then has escalated."

In the video, Father Byrne, who initially claimed to be a groundskeeper, said: "At this point I'm going to put down poison, I don't know if that would kill them, but it'd be a good side effect.

"We've had a lot of dogs soiling in our grounds.

"Private car park, it means the whole area is private. It says private car park, you're not allowed to trespass on the car park.

"Well wee dogs it would've been nice if you got to live longer but..."

The priest, who was holding what appeared to be a large bag of gardening product, claimed to be "too intimidated" to give his name in the video.

Father Danny McLoughlin, of the Diocese of Paisley, said Father Byrne did not have poison or "the intention to harm dogs."

He added: "The initial exchanges are not on the video but the video appears to be banter, intended to be humorous, which then has escalated.

"Since the matter has been referred to Police Scotland, we cannot comment further."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are aware of the video and enquiries are at an early stage."