PLANNING chiefs in the New Forest are threatening to take action against one of the area's top tourist attractions.

The New Forest Owl Sanctuary at Crow Hill, Ringwood, has breached planning laws by extending its facilities without permission from the district council.

He has been given one month to apply for permission for the unofficial additions to his wildlife complex.

Owner Bruce Berry fell foul of planners last year when around an acre of farmland was added to the sanctuary to house three new aviaries for injured birds and three ponds for keeping and breeding otters.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the district planning committee, which accused Mr Berry of turning the sanctuary into a mini zoo.

While the planning officers raised no objection to the conservation and animal welfare work carried on there, they were concerned at the expansion of a tourist facility in the greenbelt.

A report to the committee said: "The sanctuary has been substantially extended since it first opened and attracts people from a wide area.

"The latest enlargement is likely to lead to an increase in visitors and additional pressures on the New Forest." Committee vice-chairman Ann Drake said: "If ever there was a case of creeping development, this is it.

"The owl sanctuary is not an ideal site for a mini zoo. Mr Berry is a nice man who runs a good clean site, but he doesn't believe in councils and applying for planning permission.

"We have been extremely lenient with him and allowed him to get away with an awful lot, but it's time to call a halt."

Planning officers said the ponds and aviaries should remain in the interests of nature conservation, but should be fenced off to discourage extra visitors to the sanctuary. They recommended the committee to take enforcement action to prohibit public access to the area. Mr Berry told councillors: "Children visiting the sanctuary like to see a pair of breeding otters - that's what the New Forest is all about.

"It will be embarrassing to tell a school party that they can't walk over to see the otters."

The committee agreed to defer enforcement action for a month. Members said that would give Mr Berry time to submit a planning application and enable the committee to give the matter further consideration.