A dog day care service whose clients included high-profile celebrities is no longer operating after a complaint was made that it had no licence.

The London Dog Walking Company boasted clients such as Homeland star Damian Lewis and The Crown actress Emma Corrin, according to a former employee.

The company, based in Aylmer Parade in Highgate, has 4.9 stars on Google from 55 reviews.

But Haringey Council has confirmed that the company is no longer operating in the borough after it launched an investigation following a complaint that it had no licence.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, all dog day care activities need a licence if they are run as a commercial business.

Under the Animal Welfare Regulations 2018, operators of such businesses need to be licensed by the council in which the business is based - in this case Haringey.

One former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that in September 2021 the number of clients using the company’s services exploded to almost 40 customers a day.

They added that clients would pay £40 for day care, or £20 for a one-hour walk.

Dogs would often be taken to Hampstead Heath, and were collected from houses across north London.

Clients lived in places such as Tufnell Park, Holloway, Kentish Town, Gospel Oak, Highgate, Dartmouth Park and East Finchley.

In a 5-star Google review made three months ago, actor Damian Lewis said: “Takes a lot of stress away knowing that my pooch is heading off for a few hours with kind, attentive dog lovers.”

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “We are investigating the London Dog Walking Company following a complaint of the premise undertaking activity without a licence.

“Until the investigation is complete, we are unable to make any further comment. We can confirm that the operator is no longer trading in Haringey.”

The London Dog Walking Company's owner, Mick Doran, said: "When we opened our daycare facility we thought we had obtained the correct licence.

"As soon as we were made aware by Haringey that we did not have the correct licence we closed the daycare as requested. 

"Due to recent ill health and the fact I am able to break the lease I have decided to go back to just walking dogs.

"Anyone that knows us knows how much we love dogs."