A farmer who spent £50,000 creating a pet crematorium in an effort to diversify is facing a fresh setback.

Robbie Dick has applied for retrospective planning permission for a barn and office to be used to cremate farm stock and domestic pets.

Bereaved animal owners would be able to take their dead pets to the farm in the idyllic East Sussex countryside and remain on site while their animals were cremated.

Funerals, which could involve anything from lizards to ponies, could even be accompanied by music and the remains would be handed back in an urn for burial.

The building at Ayrshire Farm in Darp Lane, Ripe, near Lewes, has already been built and fitted with an incinerator. Mr Dick has received licences from the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency to operate on the site.

With his business partner, Tracey Stewart, Mr Dick had planned to open the venture in May as the farming industry struggles through hard times.

But officers at Tory-controlled East Sussex County Council are recommending the application is refused when councillors meet next Wednesday.

A report by Bob Wilkins, transport and environment director, says planning rules dictate waste management developments should not go ahead in rural areas.

He said the incinerator would have limited use as it could only deal with whole sheep, calves or poultry, so cows and other larger animals would have to be taken elsewhere.

If councillors refuse permission, Mr Dick, 41, will not be able to go ahead with his venture.

He said: "There is a need for this. The Government has encouraged farmers to diversify and this is what we are doing. We've had support from the wider community but the council seem against us."

Mr Dick plans to appeal should permission be refused and said he may even sue the council.

Refusal was first given by councillors on December 10.

However, it was agreed another report would be prepared after it emerged information supporting the venture had not been heard.

In his report, Mr Wilkins says the application would still contradict countryside planning policy and that no new information had surfaced that would reverse his original decision.

It said: "Having considered all the additional representation since my initial report was prepared, I am satisfied the considerations and conclusions remain relevant and no new information has been submitted which leads me to alter my recommendation to refuse the application."

East Sussex County Council's planning and highways sub-committee meets at St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, on Wednesday.