A CHARITY which offers sanctuary for exotic animals is trying to raise funds to seek a court injunction against its eviction from its rented property.
Peter Heathcote, chief executive of the Exotic Animal and Welfare Trust, said his curator was barred entry to the site at Boundary Farm, on the A68 near Tow Law, County Durham, at the weekend.
He said the reason given for eviction by the landlord was non-payment of rent.
But Mr Heathcote argues the rent is up to date, apart from a single payment which was verbally agreed not to be paid as a contribution to the cost of location signs.
Mr Heathcote, who has been granted supervised access by the landlord, said he needed £3,000 to seek an injunction against the eviction.
Wear Valley District Council yesterday granted him an emergency street collector's permit to enable him to raise funds in the district.
The landlords have said they have acted within the law, but have declined to comment further.
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