A dog with hair so matted it could hardly stand has been taken in by an animal sanctuary.

Staff at the Animal Home and Clinic in Mount Street, Bradford, were shocked at the state of the male Afghan hound after it was handed in, and the RSPCA is now trying to seek its owner.

Its hair was caked in faeces, and the pedigree dog - worth hundreds of pounds - was in such a bad condition it was struggling to walk.

Bradford RSPCA inspector Rachel Oprysk, above with the dog, said: "It probably has not been groomed for months, if not years. The extent of the matting is the worst I have ever seen in a dog."

A man in his 50s and a woman who was about 30, dropped off the dog at the sanctuary last week after finding it in Rooley Avenue, Odsal.

It was under anaesthetic for two and a half hours while vets removed more than five kilos of matted hair. Inspector Oprysk said the RSPCA would like to speak to anyone who knows the identity of the hound and would like to speak to the pair who dropped off the dog. The RSPCA can be contacted on 0300 1234999.