CONCERNED Canvey residents came together and smashed their way into a car to save a dog left in a boot and locked in a cage.

Islanders came to the rescue of Rocky, a Doberman who was left alone for "several hours" in a Renault Scenic in Smallgains Avenue. He was spotted about 9pm on Tuseday.

After waiting for the owner who failed to return, residents smashed one of the car’s window and freed the dog at about midnight.

Calls were also made to the RSPCA.

Rocky has since been returned to his original owner, after being collected at Thorney Bay Caravan Park’s security office the following morning.

Julie Abery, of Rattwick Drive on Canvey, believes it’s not the first time the dog has been left locked in a cage in a car - and praised the community spirit shown by islanders to save the dog.

She said: “It’s terrible really and if I was in a position where I could have left the house, then I would have done.

“It was on a Facebook post where I saw this, and from what I understand he was left there for several hours. The other worrying thing is that people have said he has been left there quite often.”

A spokesman for the RSPCA confirmed the dog’s owner had been spoken to in the aftermath and reminded of his responsibilities as a dog owner.

She said: “We were called late on Tuesday evening with reports of a dog being kept in the boot of a car in Canvey.

“It was evening and temperatures were low, but we arranged for an inspector to check on the welfare of the dog early the next morning, which they did.

“The RSPCA is always concerned to hear about a dog being kept in a car, particularly during hot weather, but does not have power of entry to a private vehicle so in a situations such as this, it is always best to dial 999 and report the incident to police.

“As a charity, the RSPCA would need police assistance to gain access to the car so it can often be quicker to call them first.

“An RSPCA inspector contacted the dog’s owner yesterday morning and issued advice on the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars."

She added how the RSPCA emergency line receives around 1.2 million calls every year and has one inspector for every 110,000 people in England and Wales - compared to one police officer for every 377 members of the public.