The number of reports of dogs being left in hot cars in Dorset soared by 35 per cent in one year, figures reveal.

The RSPCA received 184 calls reporting dogs in hot cars in 2018, up from 149 in 2017.

Despite the animal welfare charity running its major annual campaign - Dogs Die in Hot Cars - last summer saw a three-year high for the number of reports of animals suffering heat exhaustion.

Campaign manager Holly Barber, from the RSPCA, said: "Last year was our busiest for three years with almost 8,300 emergency calls made to the RSPCA about this issue - that’s a five per cent increase from 2017 and a 15 per cent rise from 2016.

"It’s extremely concerning that despite all of our campaigning, dog owners are still ignoring our warnings and risking their pets’ lives by leaving them alone in cars on warm days. How many more dogs need to die before people realise that that split-second decision - usually made due to convenience - could have life-changing consequences?"

The campaign launches today, on Dogs Die In Hot Cars Awareness Day.

An incident was reported in the Purbeck area last month, prompting police to issue a reminder that leaving dogs in hot cars can cause them to suffer and potentially die.

A spokesman from the Purbeck team said: "Dog owners please remember 22 degrees outside can be 47 degrees inside the car in an hour.

"Please don't leave your dogs in your cars in this weather."

Members of the public can report emergencies to police via 999 as officers can attend more quickly and have power of entry to locked vehicles.

The RSPCA says that if police can't attend, many people's instinct is to break into the car to free the dog. The charity warns that without justification this could be classed as criminal damage.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "Make sure you tell the police of your intentions and take photos or footage of the dog as well as names and numbers of witnesses.

"Once removed from the car, move the dog to a shaded/cool area and douse him/her with cool water.

"Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water.

"If the dog isn’t displaying signs of heatstroke, establish how long the dog has been in the car and make a note of the registration.

"Ask a member of staff to make an announcement of the situation over the tannoy, if possible, and get someone to stay with the dog to monitor its condition."