A DOG trainer says his dogs will have to die after Rossendale Council turned down an application to keep the four wooden kennels he has built in a field at the back of his home.

The council's planning sub-committee gave permission for just one year, after which Trevor Johnson will have to pull down the buildings and restore the area to open meadow.

Mr Johnson, head trainer at St Thomas' Dog Obedience Club in Blackburn, and his wife Susan moved to Rossendale and a house with two acres of land to have more room for their four German Shepherd dogs.

But the day they moved into the house in Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, they were warned the kennels were against planning regulations.

Mr and Mrs Johnson say they will take the case as far as they can, as the only alternative would be to have the dogs put down.

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