NEW figures show the RSPCA sees a spike in cruelty during the summer months and with almost 100 reports in Worcestershire.

The animal welfare charity is braced for a 'summer of suffering' with pet ownership on the rise as well as financial pressures.

In Worcestershire, there were 92 reports of intentional harm against animals made to the RSPCA last year.

They included a dead pet snake abandoned in its vivarium on a footpath in Ronkswood and three pet rabbits found in a field in Kempsey after surviving for two nights in the cold.

The RSPCA receives around 90,000 calls to its cruelty line every month and investigates 6,000 reports of deliberate animal cruelty, including animal fighting and hunting.

But in the summer calls rise to 134,000 a month - three every minute and reports of cruelty soar to 7,600 each month - a heartbreaking 245 every day.

The charity has launched its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign to raise funds to help its rescue teams out on the frontline continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse and to raise awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good.

Dermot Murphy, chief inspectorate officer at the RSPCA, said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and no one wants to think of an animal being cruelly treated but sadly the reality is that every day animals are victims of deliberate cruelty and thankfully the RSPCA is there to help them.

“There are many factors which could explain why we see a rise in cruelty during the summer months. The longer sunny days could mean people are out and about more and likely to see and report abuse. Hot summer days can also lead to more people drinking alcohol in the sun which in turn can be a factor causing violence. Perhaps there is boredom or pressures at home with children being off school which can make existing difficulties magnified."