An eye witness spoke of the moment police smashed their way into a family car to rescue two dogs suffering in the heat.

“I was there when the copper smashed the window albeit he was only trying to reach the handle and his baton obviously caught a weak spot,” said the eye witness.

“Had they not have been there I would have smashed it myself anyway.”

Police were called to rescue the dogs that had left in a vehicle parked inside the car park at Waitrose, Ely, on Saturday morning.

The two Yorkshire terriers were left in the car in the Brays Lane park at around 10am with a window slightly open, but that had failed to keep down the temperature inside and concern from passers-by led to police being called.

An officer used his baton to break the window to rescue the dogs, which according to the eye-witness were almost lifeless when rescued.

A police spokesman said: “The owner was given strong words of advice regarding leaving animals in hot cars and has been reported to the RSPCA by staff members at a nearby shop.

“The owner had left a window slightly open but that does not reduce the risk posed to the health of those inside. We would remind people how dangerous it is to leave animals or young children in cars during hot weather.

“Temperatures can soar very quickly and can have devastating consequences.”

The eye witness aid the woman owner’s comments to police were that “we put water in there for them”.