Pet owners are being warned about the dangers of leaving their dogs in their cars during the seasonal hot weather, with many owners appearing to ignore warnings over pet safety, recent research suggests.

In a survey by Halifax Pet Insurance, it was found that over half of British adults had witnessed a dog locked up in a car on a hot day, despite it being well known that temperatures can rise to dangerous levels, resulting in the death of the animal.

Despite their concerns, however, over 30 per cent of these people admitted that they had taken no action to try to ensure the animal's well-being, because they were unsure what to do, or believed that it wasn't their problem.

The problem could lead to hundreds of dog deaths if temperatures become unusually hot, with temperatures able to reach dangerous levels within ten minutes if the car is left in direct sunlight.

"Owners must realise there is no safe way to leave a dog like this in warm weather," commented the RSPCA's chief veterinary officer Steve Cheetham.

"Even when the weather is not particularly hot, dogs can suffer from heatstroke as up to 90 per cent of their body is covered in hair.

"Leaving windows open and a bowl of water is not enough."

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