A dog owner has been arrested and his pet seized after the animal was left in a van for more than four hours in yesterday's sweltering heat.

Police were called after a passerby saw the van shaking as the dog desperately tried to escape the baking vehicle.

Police said the young Alsatian male crossbreed dog was "found inside in a major state of distress" yesterday afternoon.

The dog was rushed to the vets and a police spokesman said it is understood he will recover.

The dog has been seized from the owner and will be taken into care by the RSPCA.

The owner, a 39-year-old man, from Littlebourne, near Canterbury, has been arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and is currently in custody.

The van was parked in a car park in Chichester, Sussex, close to Chichester Gate Leisure Park.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "This dog is lucky to be alive and it is a sharp reminder to all drivers - do not leave your dog in the car in this heat, even for 20 minutes.

"Someone walking past had noticed that the van was shaking, and dog was found inside in a major state of distress. As officers arrived the owner, who runs a security patrol company, returned to the vehicle."

Officers were called at 1.10pm yesterday and they believe the van had been parked since 9am, possibly even earlier.

Temperatures reached 29C in Chichester yesterday and it was about 27C when the dog was found.