Guinea pigs Mushroom and Toadstool have found a loving new home after they were abandoned in a "sorry state" in Alexandria.

A member of the public spotted the duo in a field before contacting animal welfare charity the Scottish SPCA.

Cheryl Lawless, animal rescue officer, said: “We are thankful to the member of the public who discovered the pair and waited with them until we arrived.

“They were in a sorry state. They had matted coats and faeces caked on their bottoms.

“They were found in January 2019 so it was bitterly cold. If they hadn’t been seen, we don’t think they would have survived the subzero conditions.

“They were taken to our Dunbartonshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre to receive the care they needed.

“Our team cleaned them up and got rid of their matted fur. They weren’t with us long before a new family came along and fell in love with them.

“They didn’t have the best start in life but have now found their loving forever home.”

Sharon Comrie, the charity's superintendent, added: “We are so grateful every time we get a call to our animal helpline. The public are our eyes and ears and we investigate every call made to us.

“On average, we get a phone call every 30 seconds to report an abused or injured animal.

“With a simple phone call, we are able to give animals like Mushroom and Toadstool their second chance in life."

“As we are a charity and receive no government funding, we rely entirely on generous donations from members of the public. Regular membership is so important to us so that we can ensure services such as the helpline will be secured for many years to come.”

You can report a concern for the welfare of an animal to the Scottish SPCA confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.

Follow the Scottish SPCA’s urgent helpline campaign #SaveBo on social media for the month of March.

To find out more about becoming a member of the Scottish SPCA and donating regularly, visit www.scottishspca.org/savebo.