A litter of kittens and a pregnant cat were found an hour from death dumped in a sealed cardboard box in scorching temperatures.

The seven 10-week-old kittens and the mum were found crammed in a cardboard box sealed with packing tape and dumped behind a block of flats in Corbett Close, Hackbridge.

Only a few airholes were in the box, which was found at midday on Sunday, when temperatures were reaching 27 degrees celcius.

Two men rushed the box to Riverside Animal Centre in Beddington., where the cats are now being cared for.

Ted Burden, the centre's founder, said: "The cats were probably under an hour from death.

"They were badly dehydrated. The mother had been struggling quite badly for air."

The centre will try and rehome the kittens. The pregnant cat is likely to have its kittens at the centre.