THE founder of a Gwent animal sanctuary says she is being forced from her home on the sanctuary site by the charity's trustees.

Viv Harris, 53, has lived in a house on Church Farm since she founded the All Creatures Great and Small sanctuary on the site 13 years ago.

But the sanctuary trustees say the house belongs to the charity and, since Ms Harris no longer works for All Creatures, she should find a new home.

Ms Harris resigned as sanctuary manager last October feeling that Trustees were putting costs before the welfare of animals.

Now the charity is working with solicitors to remove her from the property.

Ms Harris said her four dogs are now restricted to the house and not allowed outside at the sanctuary during opening hours.

Trustee Lyn Wilkins said: "This is a delicate legal matter so we can't say too much.

"The charity raised the money three years ago to purchase the house from Ms Harris.

'Since she resigned she has lived there rent free and we think it makes sense for the new manager to live there.

"Ms Harris has not replied to any of our letters but we plan to ensure she leaves with all the money owed her by the charity.

"And we don't let Ms Harris' dogs out during the day when the public are on site because one is particularly aggressive and has attacked animals before."

But Ms Harris refutes the claims. She said: "I offered to pay rent for the house but they refused, saying that the interest on a loan I gave three years ago would cover it.

"My dog Misha was the sanctuary guard dog. She is a bit stand-offish but I have never known her to attack any other animals. They are just dressing it up to make it look worse."

Ms Harris said she has passed on all letters from the trustees to her solicitors.

"They want me to remove myself from the premises but it's been my home for 13 years.

"Part of the house belongs to me and part of it belongs to the sanctuary.

"The trustees want the house for the new manager and I don't mind moving but I'll need some money because all the money I've ever had is wrapped up in the sanctuary - unfortunately that doesn't seem to be on offer."

"While I was manager the trustees wanted to reduce the number of animals and be more selective, become a re-homing centre rather than an animal sanctuary.

"But that isn't what I dreamt of and created all on my own all those years ago.

"The name All Creatures Great and Small typifies my dream and I worked 24 hours a day for 13 years to make it happen.

"Then it became more of a business and I felt I had to resign."