A DOG food war is raging in Halesowen causing confusion to owners of the town’s hungry pooches.

Jack’s Pet Foods shop owner Michelle Hawthorne said customers who bought Berrimans dried food were baffled now that Dicksons Just Delicious was on the market.

Peter Berry, who created the Berrimans recipe, is embroiled in a bitter legal argument with Dicksons after he split from the company.

He won a civil action last month over the intellectual rights of the well-known Berrimans pet food name and is supplying Halesowen’s Big Pet Store with a similar dried dog food under that name.

But Dicksons, of Hanley, are marketing what they claim is the original Berrimans recipe as Just Delicious.

A statement from Preston-based Golden Acres, which manufacturers both dog foods, stated: “We can confirm that Dicksons Just Delicious range of products contains the original Berrimans formula with all the same active ingredients including probiotic Vetoxan.”

Mr Berry alleges the company does not have the right to use the recipe - which has been very slightly altered in Just Delicious - saying it and the name should go hand in glove and is planning further legal action.

In the meantime, Mrs Hawthorne, who runs the Wassell Road shop, with husband Nick and stocks Just Delicious said: “This is causing so much confusion - I just wish they’d get it sorted out.”