COURT papers show a cat and dog's home manager signed a court claim to say the business "runs as a charity", when it was not registered with the charity commission.

Linda Buxton, from what was formerly known as Leigh Animal Sanctuary (LAS), signed the claim in a county court dispute in October 2004.

The claim also says: "We rely on donations and will have to close if this sort of claim happens."

Leigh Animal Sanctuary also had an associated body called Friends of Leigh Animal Sanctuary (FLAS) which took donations - but neither was a registered charity.

LAS has had commercial contracts to take stray animals for several authorities, including Warrington, and also takes strays from the public.

The court papers come from the case of a man who won £144 from LAS after being sold a neutered male cat - that later turned out to be female. It gave birth to kittens four months later.

A statement from Davis Blank Furniss solicitors on behalf of LAS said: "They have not at any stage held themselves out to be a charity with all the necessary legal implications.

"They quite clearly however carry out charitable works in the broader sense.

"The home has recently been visited by the Charities Commission who are completely satisfied that the home has not held itself out to be a charity."

LAS has told Warrington Borough Council that it will not be seeking to renew its contract. Its website says it has contracts with Bolton, Leigh, Manchester, Salford, St Helens, West Lancs and Wigan.

It recently agreed to change its name to Leigh Cats and Dogs Home Ltd after the Charity Commission probe.

It also agreed to close Friends of Leigh Animal Sanctuary, and provide proof of how the money in the account was spent.

The commission accepted that some of the activities of FLAS organisation would have been charitable and is satisfied the donations have been applied to those activities.

The commission has seen the court papers and said: "We consider it would not be proportionate to look into the organisation's past activities again."