RSPCA officers are trying to track down the owner of a dog that was rescued after getting stuck in a metal gate.

The animal welfare charity was contacted in the early hours of yesterday morning by a woman who found the dog trapped between the metal bars of her garden gate in Mabel Road, Swanley.

Animal collection officer (ACO) Jade Guthrie was on call overnight and rushed to the address to help the stricken animal, with help from Kent Fire and Rescue.

She said: “The dog was trapped at the waist between two of the metal bars in a garden gate.

“It looks as though she’s tried to push through the gap and got herself stuck.

“The chocolate Labrador bitch looks like she’s recently had puppies so we’re now really concerned about the welfare of her pups.”

The adult female - which wasn’t microchipped and wasn’t wearing a collar or ID tag - didn’t belong to the owner of the home and it wasn’t clear where she’d come from.

“She was really hungry and was also covered in fleas so I’m concerned about where she may have come from and also about the welfare of her puppies,” ACO Guthrie added.

“It’s not clear whether she’s escaped from her home and whether she’s been abandoned before getting herself in a bit of a tight spot.

“Whatever happened, I’m really keen to track down her owners so I can get a bit more information about her background and to check on her puppies who are, no doubt, missing their mum.”

The dog - nicknamed Belinda - was taken to the charity’s Putney Animal Hospital where she was fed and checked over.

She will remain in RSPCA care while officers try to trace her owner and if no one claims her she will be rehomed once given the all-clear from vets.

Anyone with information or who recognises the dog should contact the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

To help the RSPCA's work donate via www.rspca.org.uk/give.