RESCUED dogs have been saved from an uncertain future after a woman was told her kennels will not have to close after all.

Kathryn Harris feared many of her canines would have to be destroyed if she was forced to shut down the kennels behind Cedar Avenue in Little Lever.

But she was delighted to hear that the 15 dogs -- some of which had been rescued after being abandoned or mistreated -- will have a home for life after planning bosses voted unanimously to allow her to continue running the kennels.

Afterwards, she said: "I am thrilled, it is a huge weight off my shoulders.

"Some of these dogs are very old and it would be impossible to find them new homes. It was an absolute nightmare facing the prospect of losing them

"This has also been an important refuge. Many of the dogs are rescued and it seems that every time someone finds an abandoned or mistreated greyhound they bring them to me."

The dogs will now be allowed to live in peace alongside four geese and four horses on the Green Belt land which Mrs Harris has owned for more than 30 years.

Thirteen of the dogs are greyhounds, some of whom are still racing.

Plans for the kennels were originally blocked by planners fearing it would cause disturbance to neighbours before agreeing to a year trial.

After receiving few complaints about noise disturbance, Mrs Harris hoped to make the home permanent.

Two neighbours later wrote to the committee complaining about noise but councillors passed the application after visiting the site.

The wooden structure similar to a stable block is on land behind Mrs Harris's home where the dogs have more than three acres of land to exercise.

Ray Deans, a planning control officer with Bolton Council, told the committee: "It is considered that on the basis of a lack of evidence that supports the objection in terms of noise disturbance, a refusal could not be reasonably sustained."