Stray or abandoned dogs have cost Kingston Council more than £34,000 in the last two years.

The figure was revealed through a freedom of information request submitted through the What Do They Know? website.

In the 2012/13 financial year, spending was £18,465, and dropped to £16,673 in 2013/14.

A spokesman for the authority said: "The council has a legal duty to provide a stray dog service.

"In the majority of cases where the stray is returned to the owner, we recoup a proportion of the associated cost."

Council dog warden Stewart Toop said: "It’s always sad when you find a stray - you hope that there’s an owner frantically looking for them and that they’ll soon be reunited.

"However, if the owner has abandoned them, then it’s rewarding to find the dog a new, loving family."

To report a lost or stray dog, call Kingston Council on 020 8547 5002 between 9am and 5pm, or on 07886 498 003 or 01932 425 718 outside of office hours.