Three dogs rescued by police after being left inside roasting-hot cars during heatwave

Police officers were forced to smash windows after dogs were left inside roasting-hot cars in three separate incidents across London - as temperatures hit 38C. 

Exasperated officers have today doubled down on warnings to the public after they were forced to break into the vehicles during the heatwave yesterday, urging owners to avoid taking pets out in the heat.

Footage showed officers having smashed through the window of a vehicle parked at the side of the road in Leicester Square yesterday afternoon as temperatures reached nearly 40C.

The video showed officers speaking with members of the public as glass lay scattered across the pavement as the dog took water from a small tub.

Meanwhile, officers took to Twitter to vent their fury when they had to smash their way into a car parked outside the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London, after another dog was left trapped inside.

The exterior temperature at the time of the rescue was 31.5C.

Barnet MPS tweeted: 'Unbelievably, our officers have just had to smash the window of a vehicle to get a dog out at the RAF museum Hendon. 31.5 degrees!

'JUST DON'T TAKE DOGS OUT IN THIS HEAT.'

And police were also called to reports of a dog being locked inside of a vehicle at a car park at Battersea Park yesterday.

Members of the public called 999 after the pooch was spotted inside a black Mercedes minivan without any of its window open, MyLondon reports.

Witnesses said nobody claimed the car as their own and the dog had been inside for around an hour before police took the decision to smash their way inside.

The dog was eventually reunited with its owners around two hours later. 

RSPCA guidance states that dogs should never be left in 'hot cars, conservatories, outbuildings or caravans on a warm day'.

It adds that temperatures of 22C outside can 'quickly rise to 47C', which can be fatal for dogs'.