A DOG lover must face a further wait to discover if he will have to get rid of some of his greyhounds from his home on a farm in Welford.

A court case brought against Steve Hitchman of Bunkers Hill Stables, Barton Road, Welford, by Stratford District Council was thrown out by magistrates last June, but he is still waiting to hear if high court action will be taken, ordering him to reduce the number of dogs he has.

In the meantime, Mr Hitchman has lost one dog through cancer, taking the number down to 10, and he has urged the council to drop any threat of action as he intends to reduce his ex-racers through natural wastage.

Mr Hitchman has raced greyhounds for years as a hobby. He said he bought the 10-acre smallholding to keep his dogs after retirement as he couldn't bear the thought of them joining unwanted animals in shelters

However, after complaints from neighbours in1996, district council officers arrived at Bunkers Hill Stables and informed him that he would have to reduce the number of dogs on his land.

Mr Hitchman thought his fight was over in June when he was given an absolute discharge from Stratford Magistrates after the district council withdrew a charge of failing to comply with an enforcement notice ordering him to get rid of some of the dogs.

He was told further action -perhaps even in the High Court - was possible if he did not agree to reduce the number of dogs he kept on his land. At the time, district council press officer Mark Lepowski acknowledged Mr Hitchman's offer to reduce numbers by not replacing the dogs as they die but said negotiations must still continue.

Now another dog, Shorty, the oldest, has died and Mr Hitchman says it was about time the matter was laid to rest.

"All the dogs are old and we are losing them to natural causes, so surely they know they will get what they want soon," he said.

"The cost of this has been huge, not just to me but to the taxpayer and it is ridiculous that this is carrying on."

Mr Hitchman remains defiant, however, and added: "If they want to continue, I will as well and there is no way I am having those dogs put down."

District council press officer Beverly Hemming told the Journal yesterday (Wednesday) the legal team had not been aware another dog had died. She said the situation was being reviewed but did not know when a decision would be reached.