Ten dogs died after being left locked inside two vans at a motorway service station on a sweltering day.

Inspectors from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found 31 Newfoundland terriers in the vans at Leicester Forest East Service Station on the M1.

Two of the dead dogs were puppies and the remaining animals were found suffering from heat exhaustion.

RSPCA chief inspector Dave Brown, who was called by police to attend the scene, expressed his horror at their condition.

He said: "Regretfully, seven were dead at scene and three more animals died later, two of which had to be put down by a vet because of their physical condition.

"We took the temperature of a number of these animals, one of which was 105 degrees and the normal temperature is 101. So what was happening is that they were boiling away from the inside and were suffocating."

The dogs, each weighing between 10 and 12 stone, were being taken from Suffolk to Derbyshire. They were travelling in purpose-built crates but had too little ventilation.

Hot weather warning

Mr Brown said this incident highlights the fact that it can be devastating to keep animals in hot cars.

"The sad part of this is that these dogs were in prime condition and it hasn't been caused by deliberate cruelty but a complete lack of thought on behalf of the people responsible for the situation.

"The RSPCA routinely each year explains to people the dangers of leaving animals in hot cars and what can happen in build up of heat which can take place in seconds."

Mr Brown said further action may be taken against the people who were responsible for the dogs after an investigation by the police and RSPCA.