POLICE officers were forced to smash a car window to free two dogs that were seriously distressed after being trapped for four hours in Weymouth.

This comes after the Royal Society of the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals (RSPCA) issued a plea for owners not to leave their dogs in vehicles.

Police said that the two young Labrador cross Collie dogs were panting and desperate to get out by the time they were called to the Old Swannery car park.

By the time they were freed they had been left inside a car for four hours on a hot sunny day by tourists visiting Weymouth to go to the beach.

PC Tom Streadman said: “We got a call from a member of the public telling us that there were two very distressed dogs in a parked car.

“When we got there we could see that they were clearly distressed and panting.

“They had no water and the window wasn’t left open for air.

“It was an extremely hot day and in the end we were forced to smash a window to free the dogs.”

PC Steadman had used the beach tannoy system to get the attention of the dog owners but after half an hour he acted to save the dogs by breaking the window.

The dogs had been trapped in the hot car from noon to just before 4pm.

He added: “When we got to them they were heavily panting and desperate to get out.

“I just want to get the message out that if you leave your dog in the car on a hot day we will act to save the dog.”

The dogs were checked by vets at the scene before the owners, who were holidaymakers, arrived.

RSPCA chief veterinary adviser Mark Evans said: “A hot car can be a death trap.”

Dorset Police are now continuing their investigation and the owners could be charged or receive a fine for their actions.