AN animal charity has branded the drowning of a dog whose body was found in a North Yorkshire river after being weighed down as “vile and unnecessary cruelty”.

The male Staffordshire bull terrier was discovered floating in the River Ouse near Overton on Tuesday when staff from the RSPCA animal home in York saw the bloated body while walking.

They believe the dog had been in the water for about a week and probably suffered a “long and painful death”, and have now appealed for help to catch those responsible.

The animal had been tied to a bag weighed down by a heavy metal vice. It was not microchipped, but the RSPCA say it was elderly, with a creamy colour and a docked tail.

Inspector Gill Corder said: “The vice was extremely heavy and we think it was used to pull this poor animal under the water and drown him.

"It would have been a horrible way to die, and whoever did this is guilty of vile and completely unnecessary cruelty.

“Somebody somewhere must have noticed this dog and could tell us that it is now missing. We would urge anyone who knows anything to come forward.”

Anybody with any information should call the RSPCA cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 and leave a message for Inspector Corder.