A PETITION with more than 20,000 signatures was presented to councillors in a bid to stop a pet shop from selling puppies.

Linton Pet store in Hare Hatch has attracted strong criticism from pressure groups over how the dogs were sourced.

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) previously said owner Loridana Agius had complied with the conditions of the licence, but campaigners have held regular demonstrations against the shop.

However, the store will no longer be able to sell puppies after a temporary licence issued by the council expired on October 4.

Councillor Norman Jorgensen, WBC's executive member for Environment, said: “Linton Pets was issued a licence earlier in the year in June valid for one year, which did not include the ability to sell puppies.

"At that time, it was given a temporary period, which expires on October 4, to transition.

"After that date it can continue to operate as a pet shop but cannot sell puppies.”

A high court judge intervened in April after branding the campaigns as 'oppressive and unacceptable' and limited picketing to just four hours per week.

He also said it was an unfair distraction to other businesses at Ladds Garden Village on Bath Road where they pet shop is based.

The licence could be renewed by the council despite mounting pressure from action groups, who claimed the puppies came from farms and suffered physically and mentally.

The online petition reads: “Farm puppies are often removed from mum at five weeks old and can be left alone in the pet shop for hours.

“The puppies might be looked after while in the shop, however, mum is in the background suffering every day and being bred from over and over again.

“We believe that the concerns regarding the source of the puppies should result in a licence not being issued. We therefore plead with Wokingham Borough Council to listen to the people.”

Campaigners suggested that the store had been issued with a notice to stop selling puppies more than three weeks ago, but the council said it had met all necessary requirements.

Ms Aguis was approached but refused to comment.