AN animal charity has applied for planning permission to build exercise areas for its dogs in a bid to re-home more of them.

The National Canine Defence League (NCDL) at Sadberge, near Darlington, has applied to Darlington Borough Council to build two all-weather exercise runs within its 12 acre centre.

The runs, which will be 5m by 10m, will have tarmac surfaces, so in the winter months the dogs can get some exercise without getting dirty.

Catherine Gilley, centre manager, said that they have 130 dogs at the kennels on most days, and in the winter it is time consuming exercising the animals and bathing them all afterwards as well.

The centre already has two partially all-weather exercise runs as well as a six-acre fenced field to the rear for supervised exercise. The aim of the two new runs, is to provide an area where the dogs can go for short spells, have a run around and do their business.

Ms Gilley said: "If they're covered in mud during the winter months they don't look very appealing to people, but these all-weather surfaces will help keep the dogs clean and will be easy for us to clean."

The centre re-homes 1,200 dogs each year. Anyone interested in re-homing a dog should call (01325) 333114.