The owners of a pet shop in Hare Hatch, near Reading, are planning to renew their licence to sell puppies, despite mounting pressure from protesters.

After more than 18 months of petitioning, protesting and legal disputes, some campaigners thought they had convinced Wokingham Borough Council to stop Linton Pet Store from selling dogs.

A petition calling for the revocation of the store's licence, which has more than 20,000 signatures, stated the store "has been issued notice" by the council "to stop selling puppies."

But the local authority insists the licence has not been revoked, as owner Loridana Agius has complied with the conditions of their licence.

Councillor Norman Jorgensen, executive member for environmental health said: "The council is not aware of any link between Eric Hale, or any other breeders in Ireland, and Linton Pets.

"All puppies sold in the last 12 months have been supplied by licensed breeders and no irregularities were found with the paperwork supplied by their licensing authorities.

"The current licence allows Linton Pets to sell puppies from licensed breeders until October 4 in 2017."

The owner of Linton Pets, which is located in Ladds Garden Centre, told the getreading website they are planning to renew their licence, so she can continue to sell puppies.

The campaigners claim that the shop owners have been buying dogs from puppy farms, where bitches are overbred and their puppies are kept in squalid conditions.

Dozens of them frequently form picket lines outside the store in Bath Road.

However, the owners claim they have always bought dogs from licenced and responsible breeders and adhered to the conditions of their licence.