Berni Inns riches go to cats and dogs

Animals were the love of wealthy Esme Berni's life, and in her will, published yesterday, most of her pounds 4.7m estate is destined for dog and cat homes.

The main beneficiary is the Bristol and District branch of Animal Concern, a charity which saves unwanted and abandoned animals and finds them caring homes.

A spokeswoman for the group said they believed they would receive between pounds 3.5m and pounds 4m from their benefactor.

Mrs Berni, wife of a Bristol restaurateur, Aldo Berni, who helped found the Berni Inn chain, spent pounds 170,000 to buy former dog kennels at the village of Barrow Gurney on the outskirts of Bristol four years ago.

It is now the centre of the charity's activities at Holly Head Sanctuary, which last year found homes for around 1,000 animals, mostly cats and dogs.

Mrs Berni was a frequent visitor to the sanctuary and the nearby home of Pauline Leeson, one of the founder members. She said she did not know how much the sanctuary might receive, but the treasurer believed it might be in the region of pounds 3.5m to pounds 4m. She added: "We are overjoyed to receive this money.".