Tom Hardy in plea for Londoners' help after four adorable puppies found dumped in a box and left to die

Actor Tom Hardy has urged Londoners to give great homes to rescue dogs after four puppies were found dumped in a box and left to die in a park.

The Dark Knight Rises actor is a big supporter of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, which rescued the four dogs which were discovered in Victoria Park in Bow.

They were found crying and shivering in a cardboard box on the pavement by a passer-by last Tuesday, as temperatures plunged in the capital.

The seven-week-old Staffordshire Bull Terriers were brought to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where vets checked over the pups.

Dog-lover Mr Hardy, 40, took to Instagram to spread the word about the abandoned pups, who have already found new homes.

"New Staffies found and brought to Battersea this am in a box found in park," he said. "Look at them. I want to house them all."

“These puppies had a lucky escape,” said Battersea’s intake manager Steve Craddock. “The whole experience must have been very frightening for them.

“It was a cold day and they could have easily got hypothermia, suffocated or died of dehydration.

“Fortunately, they were found in time and - after a drink, a sleep and some TLC - made a full recovery, and now they’re charging about enjoying life with playful puppy enthusiasm.”

The four dogs were named after famous suffragettes to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women over 30 getting the vote.

The three girls in the litter were named Emmeline, Lydia and Edith after Emmeline Pankhurst, Lydia Becker and Edith Garrud while the only boy was named Davison after Emily Davison.

The puppies are now being looked after by foster carers until they are ready to go to their new homes, which have all been found.

Foster carer Kim Tyson, who is looking after Emmeline and Davison, said: “They were a bit quiet when they first arrived, but within a few hours they found their feet and now they run the house.

"I’ve got two Dalmatians and they certainly rule over them.

"They love human company and cry when we’re not around, and they like to sleep cuddled up together.

"They’re very sweet little dogs and I can’t understand how anyone could have abandoned them like that. I hate to think what would have happened if they hadn’t been found when they were.”

Founded in 1860, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has since rescued, reunited and rehomed over 3.1 million dogs and cats.