A devoted animal lover has been told his pets can live on his land - but he has to move out.

Pensioner Maurice Ellis has taken in 32 cats, ducks, geese, two pigs, sheep, goats, horses, chickens, ponies, pigeons, doves, quails, bantams and hens which have been abandoned or placed in his trust.

Now he could be forced to shut down his animal sanctuary at Janda Field, in Fane Road, Benfleet, because strict green belt law means that while the animals can live there - Mr Ellis and his wife Isobel cannot.

The devastated 65-year-old said if he has to move into a rented house, he will not be able to afford the upkeep of the sanctuary.

He claims he only lives in his wooden house on the land to provide round-the-clock care for the animals and deter vandalism.

Mr Ellis said: "We foster cats from the Cats Protection League, we have goats from Kings holiday park on Canvey. Nobody wants the other animals, that's why they are here.

"This is the animals' last home. They grow old safely and die here in peace."

He added: "At my time of life, I'm not going to build a great big house and we cannot afford to rent a place and keep the sanctuary going. We cannot live anywhere else.

"I start at 5am and finish at about 8pm - feeding, mucking out, planting vegetables, shopping for food for the animals. A local supermarket gives us veg for the animals and we are quite self-sufficient with what we grow. This is my life."

The public donates money to keep the sanctuary running and local schools sometimes take children for visits.

Castle Point councillors voted to evict Mr Ellis but planning chairman Jenifer Howlett admitted it was the most difficult decision she has ever had to make.

She said: "If this application was allowed, it would set a precedent for the rest of the borough and anyone could then set up home in any part of the green belt. We would be trapped into passing every application.

"The animals can stay but we cannot allow the residential building. It is so sad they did not come to see the council first and sort it all out to everyone's benefit.

"The planning committee sometimes has to make difficult decisions and this is one of the hardest ones I have ever had to make."

No room for Maurice - his animal sanctuary may have to close down because of a planning committee decision

Picture: CARL EVE

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