POLICE were forced to smash a car window to free four panting dogs trapped inside a sweltering car, it was revealed today.

The pooches were inside the vehicle parked in direct sunlight on Byefield Lane, Linda Vista Gardens, in Abergavenny yesterday, Gwent Police said.

The thermometer climbed to nearly 16 C in Gwent yesterday but the temperature inside the car could have been more than double that.

The RSPCA was called in and officers are set to press charges, Gwent Police said.

The dogs are now safe and well.

A police spokesman said: “Please remember, on warm days like today, when it’s 22°C/72°F outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 47°C/117°F within 60 minutes.

“Dogs pant to keep cool. In hot stuffy cars dogs can’t cool down - leaving a window open or a sun-shield on windscreens won’t keep your car cool enough.”