Four trapped and abandoned young puppies in a box had a ‘lucky escape’ when someone rushed them into Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

A man, who has not been named, was walking through Victoria Park on January 9 when he heard the distressed seven-week-old Staffordshire bull terriers crying and found them shut in a box on the pavement.

He brought them into the animal home where they were checked over and found to be in good health.

Battersea’s intake manager Steve Craddock said: “These puppies had a lucky escape. The whole experience must have been very frightening for them. It was a cold day and they could have easily got hypothermia, suffocated or died of dehydration.

“Fortunately, they were found in time and - after a drink, a sleep and some TLC - made a full recovery, and now they’re charging about enjoying life with playful puppy enthusiasm.”

Staff later named them after famous suffragettes in honour of the 100-year anniversary of the women’s vote – Emmeline Pankhurst, Lydia Becker and Edith Garrud – while the only male was named Davison after Emily Davison.

Now all of them have homes lined up and are currently being looked after by Battersea’s foster carers until they are old enough to go into their new homes.

Foster carer Kim Tyson is looking after Emmeline and Davison.

She said: “They were a bit quiet when they first arrived, but within a few hours they found their feet and now they run the house. I’ve got two Dalmatians and they certainly rule over them. They love human company and cry when we’re not around, and they like to sleep cuddled up together.

“They’re very sweet little dogs and I can’t understand how anyone could have abandoned them like that. I hate to think what would have happened if they hadn’t been found when they were.”