A PET owner says she is relieved her name has been cleared after a charge of having dogs dangerously out of control was dropped.

Julie Thatcher had been charged after another dog was injured, a Staffordshire bull terrier-Jack Russell cross, on a footpath between New Farm Road to Stanway Green in July last year.

Mrs Thatcher has always vehemently denied the charge that her three dogs - two boxers called Bosco and Bubbles and a husky called Tyson - were out of control.

She was due to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday.

However before proceedings began, the Crown Prosecution Service made it clear there was insufficient evidence. The case was then dropped.

A spokesman for the CPS confirmed no further action would be taken.

He said: “We have decided that no further action should be taken against a woman who was investigated by Essex Police for allegations of an offence in relation to the Dangerous Dogs Act.

“We have a duty to keep cases under continuing review and, following a further review, we concluded there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

“The complainant has been informed and provided with a full explanation in writing.”

Mrs Thatcher said the situation had caused her considerable stress.

She said: “It has caused an awful lot of problems. But the facts are now people cannot come up to me and harass me over a situation which did not happen.

“They cannot say anything to me or the dogs. I know they are not like that.

“But now it is all over I am looking forward to having that peace of mind.

“If there is any kind of harassment then I won’t hesitate to contact the police.

“We have been through enough and up until now everything has been very one sided.

“Everyone should now know my name has been cleared.”