A GRANDMOTHER whose monkey was taken into hiding to avoid him being sent to an animal sanctuary has put plans to get another pet on hold.

Mary Stanton, 73, of Harrison Street, Blackburn, said she had not made any further inquiries into getting a different type of monkey which does not require a dangerous wild animal licence because her husband, John, is still getting over losing Joe. She began looking into getting a Marmoset monkey shortly after losing a court battle to keep the 13-year-old capuchin monkey last November when Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council refused to renew her licence.

Instead she has invested in a sixth Macaw, called Bobby, to add to her growing household collection of pets, including three Amazon parrots, a cockatoo and a dog. Mary had cared for 'her baby' since he was six weeks old and denied court claims by the Monkey World ape sanctuary in Dorset that her pet had suffered 'mental' abuse.

John said he was faced with no other option but to send Joe into hiding after the animal was promised a home at the primate shelter. Today Mary said she had not given up hope of getting a new pet and said: "I've looked into getting a new monkey but the ones I've seen are all a couple of years old and I want a baby one. I'm still looking but John has asked me to wait because he's only just getting over losing Joe. We really miss him but his owners phone us all the time and say he's fine."