A KENNELS has been fined more than £5,000 after animals were found sleeping in their own excrement.

Bosses at the Castle Farm Kennels and Cattery in Wickham admitted 19 charges of breaching their licence to keep animals under a prosecution by Winchester City Council's animal licensing inspectors.

As well as the unsanitary conditions the animals were being kept in, inspectors also found the animals had been denied bedding and water.

Magistrates at Fareham Magistrates' Court fined licence holder Malcolm Ellrich £4,750 and ordered him to pay £1,000 in costs.

Speaking after the sentencing, Castle Farm Kennels and Cattery's new manager Kim Waite told the Daily Echo that the problems at the kennels had been caused by the former manager, and not Mr Ellrich.

Ms Waite said she would now be turning round the kennels to ensure that they were returned to their former glory.