A petition opposing a plan for a new dog breeding business in East Ayrshire has been signed by more than 14,000 people.

Hazel Hunter has applied for a licence to breed dogs on New Intax Farm near Galston.

In late 2015, a planning application was accepted for the premises to be turned into a dog breeding and sales business, with 18 kennels to be built inside the farm and dogs being transported to customers.

The facility would reportedly house up to 40 dogs which would be reared and then sold at a profit.

East Ayrshire Council's licensing board confirmed the application had been received and it was expecting a number of objections.

There has been significant local opposition to the plan, with local dog trainer Martha Brindley launching a campaign against the "puppy farm".

"Being a dog lover and a dog trainer I see, first hand, the after-effects of dogs which are reared in these conditions," she said.

"I started a Facebook campaign and one of my friends took on the task of starting the petition while I emailed the local council and anybody that I thought could possibly help to publicise it.

She continued: "Puppies reared in these conditions generally don't make good household pets. They are often severely ill and many of them die from their illnesses.

"They are not handled by humans and have no human contact. They are taken away from their mother at six weeks of age, taken to a house where they allege the dog has been reared, it hasn't it has just been taken from this factory.

"The first human contact it usually has is when it is taken by the breeder to be sold. They are usually scared of human touch and human voice. They have not been habituated and so find it really difficult to adapt to a normal household environment."

A protest is planned at the meeting of the licensing board, organised by Katie's Cradle horse sanctuary.

The Scottish SPCA is aware of the application and said it will be urgently discussing the farm with East Ayrshire Council.

An undercover Scottish SPCA inspector said: "We are liaising with councils across Scotland in an attempt to ensure the welfare of puppies and breeding bitches involved in the licensed and unlicensed commercial trade.

"We are committed to improving the welfare of puppies in Scotland as well as those being brought into the country to be sold.

"We will continue to work alongside other agencies to reduce the number of pups with health issues."

The decision on the application is expected to be made on December 21 when the licensing board meets, and campaigners say they will be present to inform councillors of their concerns.

Police Scotland are expected to take issue with the plan but a spokesman told STV News no objection had yet been raised.

Hazel Hunter could not be reached for comment