A dog walker Sharon Bailey was in for a shock when her dog discovered two abandoned terrapins in a soggy cardboard box.

She said: "My attention was drawn when my dog pounced on this wet object and to my surprise there were two terrapins inside.

"They were pretty little things with yellow stripes, drenched in the rain. It seems heartless to have left them in this way, and I was concerned about them surviving out there so took them home and put them in the bath to warm up.”

The animal lover, who has experience owning reptiles, called the RSPCA for help. 

RSPCA animal collection officer Dennis Lovell said:  "Sadly, it is not that unusual for terrapins to get dumped like this.

"People get them as cute little pets when they are the size of a 50p piece, then get a shock when they grow to the size of a dinner plate a couple of years later and need bigger and better tanks, pumps and other equipment."

Anyone with any information about these dumped terrapins should call the 24 hour RSPCA cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.