A little boy has written to the Queen because new homes are being built where he walks his dog.

Richard Burke was with his grandmother Louise Brown, walking his dog, Romeo, by Taylor Wimpey’s Three Fields, Tent 1 development at Smallhythe Road, when he said that he was worried about all the new houses going up in Tenterden.

The eight-year-old discussed the issue with his grandmother and with her help decided to pen a letter to the Queen, asking her to intervene.

Richard lives with mum, Sarah-Jane Jenner, 31, and dad, Ruairi Burke, 30, in Rogersmead.

Ruairi, an air-conditioning engineer, said: “Richard was worried that he wouldn’t have anywhere to take Romeo with new houses going up in the fields where he walks him.

“He had the idea of writing to the Queen and was really excited when he got a reply to his letter, but a bit upset that nothing is going to happen and the homes will still be built.”

Richard, a Tenterden Junior School pupil, heard back from the Queen’s deputy correspondence co-ordinator, Jennie Vine.

She wrote: “While Her Majesty has taken careful note of the views you express regarding the plans for building 200 houses in your local area, I must explain that the Queen’s position as a constitutional sovereign precludes her from intervening in matters such as this.”

Richard said: “I wrote a letter to the Queen because there are too many houses being built in Tenterden and there’s no place to walk my dog.

“I felt happy to get a letter back but sad that she couldn’t do anything about all the houses.

“I think we might have to drive somewhere to take the dog for a walk now.”

Mum Sarah-Jane said: “I thought it was very brave and grown-up of Richard to write a letter to the Queen, and I was quite shocked that he did it.”

Meanwhile Romeo, a three-year-old puggle, (a cross between a beagle and pug), is unaware the matter of his daily walk as been brought to the Queen’s attention and remains happily ensconced with his family.

Tenterden is earmarked for 350 new homes – with 250 in the Tent 1 development and 100 at Tilden Gill.

Marketing of Tent 1 homes has already begun for Taylor Wimpey’s Three Fields scheme and Dandara’s Church View development.