ANIMAL lovers were today re-assured that the resting place for their pets will remain safe despite the sale of the Ipswich Pet Cemetery.Ivan Chittock opened the cemetery in 1979 as a part-time business venture in his one-and-a-third acre back garden.

ANIMAL lovers were today re-assured that the resting place for their pets will remain safe despite the sale of the Ipswich Pet Cemetery.

Ivan Chittock opened the cemetery in 1979 as a part-time business venture in his one-and-a-third acre back garden.

But by 2002 the cemetery, in Tuddenham Road, Ipswich, was full with all 900 plots filled with beloved family pets.

Many plots are still visited regularly and have leases that do not expire for several years to come.

Peter Tombs, now of Ramsgate, Kent but formerly of Manningtree has three dogs buried in the cemetery with leases running until 2017 and raised concerns as to what would happen now the land has been sold.

Mr Tombs, 84, is unable to make the journey to visit the graves himself, but his daughter still visits on his behalf.

He said: "I saw an advert for the cemetery in Dog World magazine and thought it was a good idea.

"I now have three dogs, Johnny, Liebe and Bella, who are either buried or have their ashes scattered there.

"The last one was buried in 1996 and I had no reason to think the cemetery may not be a permanent fixture.

"The sale came as a shock and I am crushed to think the graves may be bulldozed in the future for a development."

Mr Chittock, of Whitehorse Hill, Tattingstone, today said the sale of the cemetery, along with his three-bedroom house, will not affect the graves.

He said: "The sale of the property will not lead to any changes with the running of the business.

"Who ever buys the land will keep the cemetery up and running - it is as simple as that."

A Suffolk Coastal District Council spokesman said: "Suffolk Coastal is not aware of any proposals for any alternative use of this site and certainly any potential change of use would require planning permission.

"If such an application was received there would inevitably be consultation with the public and statutory organisations as to whether it would be appropriate for the land to be used for something other than a pet cemetery."

n. Are you sad at the loss of the cemetery? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk