The owners of a dog kennels are taking legal action against campaigners who tried to close them down in a "malicious hate campaign".

Nigel Stentiford said he and his wife Lorraine had endured a two-year vendetta which culminated in a string of objections against their application for an animal boarding establishment licence.

The Stentifords took over New Carleton Kennels in Ford, near Arundel, four years ago.

When the couple applied to renew their licence earlier this year, more than 15 letters containing allegations about mistreated dogs at the kennels and criticism of Mr Stentiford's training methods were submitted to Arun District Council.

Police attended an Arun licensing committee meeting yesterday because more than ten objectors had come to watch the proceedings and it was feared there might by hostility.

Addressing the committee, Mr Stentiford said: "We have been subject to a malicious hate campaign instigated by one person.

"This has forced me to issue county court proceedings against her for defamation.

"I feel these objections are worthless. There are no veterinary reports or bills to support them and most have been based on second-hand evidence."

He said all the objections had been "orchestrated" and he had never been charged with any offence against animals.

Mr Stentiford said: "Dogs are not just a way of earning a living - they are a way of life. The level of care the dogs get is second to none.

"If I did not like dogs, I would not be in this game."

New Carleton Kennels can hold up to 50 dogs in 26 kennels.

Arun environmental health officer John Green said random inspections, from May to December last year, found the animals staying at the kennels were well cared for.

The committee voted in favour of renewing Mr Stentiford's licence.