Care home bosses have served an 87-year-old resident with an eviction notice - as a row over whether he can keep his dog continues to rumble on.

Bob Harvey, who lives at Burnfoot Hall in Ecclefechan, has been told he must leave the premises by April 19.

It comes after a row broke out last year, when the widow was told that he would no longer be able to keep his miniature schnauzer - Darkie - at the home, run by Mead Medica.

Bob, whose situation has already prompted protests of support in both Edinburgh and London, is currently looking at accommodation elsewhere.

His advocate, Arthur Shuter, told the News & Star he is hoping Bob will have found somewhere else to live before he is kicked out.

"He's been given the notice to quit, which has said he has to be out by then," Mr Shuter said.

"The notice to quit means his tenancy will be terminated. If he doesn't leave, then the home will have to get a court decree to evict him."

Mr Shuter added that he does not expect Burnfoot Hall to go back on its decision and allow Bob to remain a resident and keep Darkie at the home.

"They seem to be very anti-Bob, so we need to find an alternative, permanent solution," he said.

Mr Shuter, who has previous experience of helping care home residents who have been threatened with eviction, added: "Whatever Bob decides, it should only be one move because of his medical condition.

"I don't think it would be wise for him to move more than once."

A petition set up by Tracey Streit, who lives off Carlisle's Brampton Old Road, has now gained more than 250,000 signatures.

"Bob's accepted that he's going to find somewhere else to live," she said. "At the moment he's looking at a few different options. He doesn't really want to leave because that's where all his friends are. We need to find the right solution.

"Hopefully we'll have found somewhere else before April 19."

Michael Best, managing director of Mead Medica previously said that Darkie must leave the home after witnessing him "coming out of nowhere, barking and becoming aggressive at a family", adding that doors are "constantly left open" allowing the dog "free reign".

He said: "I have witnessed the dog foul several times in the last fortnight, both inside and outside, and that it had eaten from Mr Harvey’s dinner plate.

"If Mr Harvey insists on keeping the dog, he will have to find somewhere else to live."