Owners are being urged not to dump their pets by the RSPCA.

The charity has received thousands of calls regarding animals that have been abandoned across England and Wales. The calls have risen over the summer months by 50% compared to last year, with London has topped the list of worst places for animal abandonment complaints.

Calls to the charity involve sick and abandoned kittens to abandoned horses close to death found on the side of the road.

An RSPCA superintendent Lee Hopgood said: "We see every type of animal abandoned, from dogs and cats to exotic animals like pythons. It is so dangerous to leave any animal abandoned and having to fend for itself."

Members of the RSPCA have already seen a number of abandoned animals this summer, with two kittens found dumped in a woodland in Hampshire. One of the kittens ended up having to have his eye removed due to an injury. Fortunately, both of them are now recovering at an RSPCA animal centre in Ashley Heath.

Lee added that: "Abandoning pets should never be a solution, and we urge pet owners to take responsibility for their actions."

To help the RSPCA with yet another busy summer of rescuing and rehabilitating, visit rspca.org.uk/penny