A CANINE charity chairman joined ‘Allo ‘Allo actress Vicki Michelle on a visit to a rescue centre embroiled in a legal battle over its future.

AA Dog Rescue, in Burnham Road, Latchingdon, was taken to court by Maldon District Council after failing to comply with noise abatement issues.

The centre is also facing closure after losing an appeal against council enforcement notices.

Last week CEO of Dog’s Trust Adrian Burder visited the centre along with supporter ‘Allo ‘Allo actress Vicki Michelle. The duo were given a three hour tour of the site.

AA Dog Rescue, which rescued 661 dogs last year, was originally told it must cease operating as a rescue centre by October 8.

The notices said the dog rescue had changed the use of the land, without planning permission, from an equestrian site to equestrian, retail and dog rescue site.

But owners Charley Nathan and Karen James argued that there was no material difference between use for horses and use for dogs, and also denied the retail element of the notice.

However, planning inspector Diane Lewis upheld the council’s ruling. AA Dog Rescue appealed to the High Court but this was also unsuccessful.

Ms Nathan said Mr Burder had said support could be offered to the rescue if needed.

She said: “They had problems a first getting the Dog’s Trust building in Basildon – it took them about five years.”

Ms Nathan said despite the ongoing court action the rescue would not stop taking in dogs. She said: “Where are the dogs going to go — in Essex there is not enough space for them.

“Those that we have taken in [since the enforcement] now have new homes when they would have been dead.

"That is why we are defying the order because that is what we do – we save dog’s lives. We continue to fight.”

Ms Nathan said the latest sound tests carried out by the centre had shown a huge improvement.