A COUPLE have been banned from keeping animals for ten years after allowing their two pets to suffer.

Dogs owned by Keith and Mary Calvert were found to be infested with fleas and mange when the couple took them to vet Paul Wilson in 1999.

At an earlier hearing, the couple, of Lowther Road, Bishop Auckland, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to dogs, Rex and Ben. One of them died before it could be treated, while the other was destroyed.

Mr and Mrs Calvert's solicitor said they had not set out to cause suffering.

As well as the ban, Bishop Auckland magistrates gave them six months' probation.