Police in County Durham save six tiny puppies from being thrown away in a plastic bag

Six tiny five-day-old cocker spaniel puppies were rescued after police chanced upon a man about to dump them in a plastic bag by the roadside.

The puppies were so young their eyes hadn't opened when officers found them after hearing squealing coming from the bag.

PCs Liam Venon and Luke Howie made the discovery when they spotted a suspicious parked car on the A689 in County Durham in the early hours of Saturday morning.

They saw the driver standing outside the car, swinging a sealed plastic bag on the edge of a bank.

After they put on their blue lights and pulled up behind the car, they saw the man throw the bag on to the passenger seat and then pretend to check one of his tyres.

The officers opened the bag to discover the six tiny puppies, who PC Venon said were "riddled with fleas".

They questioned the driver at the roadside and arranged for the litter to be taken to a local vet for treatment.

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The man, in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, money laundering and trafficking in a controlled drug and taken into custody.

He has since been released on bail while inquiries continue.

The man's house was also searched and the puppies' parents were rescued and reunited with the litter.

PC Venon said the rescue was a case of "right place, right time".

"If we'd have passed just seconds before, we would have been none the wiser.

"Both myself and Luke are huge dog lovers, so it has been one of those jobs which has really stuck with us, we've hardly stopped thinking about it but are just glad to have saved them."