A WOMAN who has been fighting for seven years to keep her business going, has emerged victorious.

Marilyn Lewis, 47, of Plaxtol Road, Erith, runs a dog sitting service for pooch owners who do not want to board their pets in kennels when they go away.

Instead, Home from Home employs carers who board dogs in their own homes.

Her battle began in 1998 when she was told by Bexley Council that under new legislation, her business was classed in the same rules as boarding kennels.

As a result, she was liable for a £295 licence for each of her carers, as well as £173 a year each in subsequent years.

Mrs Lewis said the £15,000 cost in 1998 of meeting the council's demands, would bankrupt her business, which had only been up-and-running for two years.

So she launched a campaign to have her carers registered in the same way as childminders, which would cost much less.

After stories in News Shopper and lobbying the council, Bexley's licensing committee offered to cut the cost to £95 a licence but even that was too steep for her carers whose seasonal work only pays £9 a day. Mrs Lewis said: "I was not prepared to pay it."

But she refused to give up her battle and continued to write to MPs and anyone else who would listen.

Her first breakthrough came when she contacted the Home Office, which told her Bexley Council had the right to interpret the guidance on the licensing legislation.

Her second came when the City of London Inspectorate, which offers guidance to other London boroughs, became involved.

One of its inspectors visited Mrs Lewis with an environmental health officer from Bexley Council and made recommendations to Bexley on how it should proceed.

As a result, Mrs Lewis's dog carers are now only being asked for £52 for the first year of which Mrs Lewis has offered to pay half and £26 a year after that.

Mrs Lewis, who has 3,500 dog owners on her books, is delighted.

She said: "It was difficult for Bexley because my business didn't fit into any of the boxes.

"But I was always anxious to operate within the law and I knew I couldn't carry on without licences.

"I am just delighted it is finally all over."