Two police officers were caught on camera dozing in their illegally-parked patrol car on New Year's Day.

The PCs were photographed in the vehicle, which was parked on a pavement, around 3.45am in Sidcup, south east London.

They had left the engine of the car running - perhaps to keep warm - while they dozed in the front seats, according to witnesses.

Two Metropolitan police officers were caught on camera dozing in their illegally-parked patrol car on New Year's Day

One passerby said they shouted at the officers but failed to wake them up.

They told The Sun: 'Their radios were crackling. We yelled to wake [them] up but they didn't budge... the cops were oblivious.'

Social media users took to Facebook to discuss the photograph, with some criticising the officers for not being alert.

Mark Gabor Blaskovics wrote: ‘How can you effectively be a presence on the ground and be a deterrence if your eyes are shut? These two unprofessional officers should be suspended.’

And Pat Heath added: ‘How can [people] defend them for being asleep on the job? Were paying their wages’ (sic).

But others spoke out in support of the police and said it was safer for them to sleep than to continue driving if they were tired.

They had left the engine of the car running - perhaps to keep warm - while they dozed in the front seats, according to witnesses (stock image)

Kelly O’Reilly wrote: ‘If these officers continued to drive feeling obviously very tired and then caused an accident that was fatal people would complain more.’

And Ian Normington added: ‘[They] have probably been working flat out in double shifts for days.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force was investigating.

They added: 'We are grateful to The Sun on Sunday for bringing this to our attention.'