A dog that was rescued from inside a locked car during the heatwave earlier this week continues to be cared for.

The animal needed emergency treatment after he was spotted inside a car in a hotel car park on Monday afternoon.

The vehicle parked at the Premier Inn in South Mimms was locked and no windows were open, with temperatures in the mid to high 30s at the time.

The dog had been witnessed by a member of the public as being in “great distress” and called the police.

Officers arrived and forced their way into the vehicle before giving the dog water and transferring him to their air-conditioned vehicle. It was then taken to be treated. It’s believed the dog is continuing to be monitored and cared for.

A 48-year-old man from Waltham Forest in east London who was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty on Monday has been released under investigation, Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed.