DOG owners took up the chance to have their pets microchipped at a cost of £15 by Southend Council animal warden Val Howells.

The special advice session, held near the police unit in Marine Parade, Southend, marked the start of a campaign drawing attention to the dangers of leaving dogs in cars in hot weather.

Val said microchipping meant if a dog was lost and then found it be could quickly reunited with its owner using the council's database.

She added: "We are also warning people not to leave their dog in a car. The animal warden service, the police and the RSPCA are regularly called out to reports about this and hundreds of dogs die every year from being left in a car on a hot day."