The RSPCA has dropped an investigation into Sutton pet shop Petsville after finding no cause for prosecution.

In August the Sutton Guardian reported that the animal welfare organisation had launched an investigation into the shop after receiving complaints from members of the public unhappy with the conditions the animals are kept in.

At the time a spokesman for the RSPCA said it had received numerous complaints about the business.

But when asked about the investigation progress this week a spokeswoman for the RSPCA said the investigator had found no cause for prosecution.

She said: "We have received a number of complaints about the pet shop and have investigated them and found no grounds to prosecute the owner. We will continue to monitor the situation and respond to any complaints we may receive as we would with any pet shop."

in March the council granted the shop its licence to keep and sell animals despite receiving 19 complaints about the premises in 2006. Complaints included 13 relating to animal welfare and eight to the physical condition of the premises.

The licence application was approved following the recommendation of the Corporation of London Veterinary Service and council licensing officers.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "All complaints were investigated and on investigation only a quarter of them were found to be justified and were satisfactorily resolved."

Animal welfare campaigners, who have been protesting outside the shop on Saturdays, did not wish to comment until findings of the investigation had been made public.