A puppy breeding business based on a Norfolk farm contravened planning conditions by having nearly twice as many dogs as allowed by the planning permission, a parish council heard last night.

Tasburgh parish councillors visited Greenacres Farm in the village and found the expanding canine business run by Lisa Walsh had 23 dogs on site when the planning agreement stated there should only have been 12, which had led to increased traffic and disturbance for neighbours from customers visiting to buy dogs.

The council's planning committee last night recommended a planning application submitted by the business owner to increase the permitted number of dogs from 12 to 20 for refusal after hearing complaints from the farm's owner Lorraine Thouless, 53, and neighbour Shirley Morgan, 77, about noise and other problems associated with the increasing number of dogs.

Mrs Thouless, who lets the farm to the business, told the meeting she had experienced problems with the dogs howling late at night because they had been separated from their mothers and had witnessed customers coming and going to buy dogs. She feared if planning approval was given, the 20 dog limit would also be broken.

Mrs Morgan said customers bang on her cottage window at all hours of the day while trying to find the puppy business.

Lynn Cutress, chief executive of Redwings Horse Sanctuary, also rents property on the farm site where the charity has a barn to store hay and she told the meeting she found the noise of the dogs 'distressing.'

Following the meeting, Mrs Thouless said: 'Mainly it is the noise and the disturbance. It is quite distressing to hear them howling.'

Lisa Walsh was not present at last night's meeting.

A final decision on the planning application will be made by South Norfolk Council.