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A dog allegedly trapped inside a hot truck outside McDonald's for 40 minutes honked the vehicle's horn in desperation, a witness says.

The small canine was spotted apparently locked in the truck amid 27C temperatures outside the fast food restaurant on Monday.

In footage captured by a teenager, it could be seen looking upwards, with its mouth open, from inside the vehicle in Somerset.

Gabrielle Dart, 17, who filmed the dog, noticed a horn repeatedly sounding while visiting the chain's Frome branch with her mum.

She raised the alarm and claims that the animal was left inside the truck for about 40 minutes in the heat, Somerset Live reports.

(Image: Somerset Live)

The teenager, who lives in Bruton, said: “We heard a car horn which kept going off and realised it was the dog honking the horn."

“So I took some photos, got the manager and alerted them.”

Gabrielle and the restaurant manager apparently decided to report the 'trapped' dog to the police, while hoping its owner quickly returned.

They went indoors to call officers, but it is claimed that when the teenager next checked the car park, the truck with the dog had gone.

Gabrielle posted about the incident on social media, alleging that an open "crack" had been left in the window of the vehicle.

(Image: Somerset Live)

She claimed on Facebook : “Hello everyone, can someone please tell me who owns this vehicle as they left there dog in there car for around 40mins in 27 degrees heat! (sic) This is unacceptable!

"Do people not understand dogs are incapable of sweating. But people think this is okay because they left a crack in the window.”

Gabrielle said she believes the McDonald’s manager reported the incident to the police after she raised the alarm.

Somerset Live contacted the Frome branch, but staff on duty yesterday were not aware of the incident two days earlier.

Gabrielle’s photos and video of the dog come after several reports of dogs being left inside cars in the West Country.

The RSPCA has warned that dogs can die in hot cars.

On its website, the charity says: "Never leave your dog alone in a car on a warm day. If you see a dog in distress in a hot car, dial 999.

"Many people still believe that it’s ok to leave a dog in a car on a warm day if the windows are left open or they’re parked in the shade, but the truth is, it’s still a very dangerous situation for the dog.

"A car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn’t feel that warm. When it’s 22 degrees, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour."

Mirror Online has contacted Avon and Somerset Constabulary for comment.