THREE dogs were rescued from a baking hot car where they’d been locked for hours without water.

A woman raised the alarm after spotting the pets in a car, parked near Walton Pier.

Tendring Council dog warden Adam McGoldrick was called to the scene and said the car's front windows had been left open very slightly but had rain protectors which prevented much air getting in.

The glass sunroof was closed, but its sliding cover was open, making the vehicle even hotter for the dogs.

It was about noon on Friday when Mr McGoldrick arrived with police, who opened the car, said to belong to a visitor from outside the area.

Mr McGoldrick said: “We gave the dogs some water, opened a window and covered the windscreen with cardboard to keep the sun out as much as possible – and a note was left for the owner. There were two smaller dogs in the vehicle along with a German shepherd and they were quite distressed when we got into the car.”

The owners still had not returned when Mr McGoldrick left at 3pm, three hours after he had arrived.

An police spokesman said: “Officers attended the scene along with the Tendring Council dog warden, and attempted to contact the owner of the vehicle.

“Fortunately, they were able to gain access to the vehicle to ensure the animals had air and water.

“They were unable to trace the owner but left words of advice about not leaving animals in unventilated vehicles in hot weather.”