A spaniel was discovered lying by the side of a road with 'tears in her eyes', resting her head on a carrier bag which was full of her dead puppies.

Paul Skinner was cycling along a road in Midville, Lincolnshire, when he discovered the heartbreaking scene of the mother and her puppies.

When he discovered the mother dog, she was nustling the fish and chip shop carrier bag that her puppies had been dumped in.

Heartbreaking: The three-year-old mother dog, now named Carly, was discovered nustling the fish and chip shop carrier bag in which her four dead puppies had been dumped

Discovery: Town councillor Paul Skinner was cycling in Midville, Lincs, when he found the dog and her puppies (pictured). He described the mother dog as having 'tears in her eyes'

'I was out cycling with my friend at the time,' said Mr Skinner, a Tory councillor for Boston Borough Council.

'We spotted on the verge something that looked like a dead bird, but as we passed it it moved.

'It was a small spaniel without a collar. We looked around in case anyone was in trouble. It was set back quite a long way from the road.

'The dog was on its own, sitting licking the contents of a fish and chips carrier bag.

'The bag contained four dead pups. It was heartbreaking. She had tears in her eyes.

'I could not believe anybody could be so devoid of humanity to do something like this.'

The 58-year-old councillor alerted the police, the RSCPA and a local greyhound sanctuary which came to rescue the spaniel.

The RSPCA discovered that the mother dog was a three-year-old, and have named her Carly.

PCSO Mick Fern, kennel manager at Fen Bank Greyhound Sanctuary, also tried to resuscitate the spaniel-cross puppies.

'The vet thinks they were born alive and may have been born that morning, or in the early hours, and they may have been alive when they were left there.

Probe: Although RSCPA workers were unable to resuscitate the puppies, the mother dog is now being looked after. The RSPCA has launched an investigation into the incident

'Sometimes a puppy can give the appearance of being dead, but can be revived if you can warm them up.

'Their mother was staying with them, come what may. It was a very sad scene.'

The RSPCA confirmed they have launched an investigation following the discovery. The dog had a microchip, but that has only led back to the original breeder.

Inspector Becky Harper said: 'It is a terribly upsetting incident.

'It looks like this little dog has been cruelly dumped along with her newborn pups.

'We don't know whether the puppies were stillborn or whether they died because of the cold.

Find: Mr Skinner (left), a Tory councillor for Boston Borough Council, discovered the mother and her puppies, which had been stashed in a fish and chip shop bag (right)

'We would like to thank the cyclist who found the dog and raised the alarm and to Fen Bank Greyhound Sanctuary who got her to the vets.

'Fortunately Carly appears to be in good health and she is now being well looked after.

'We are appealing to anyone who might know more about how Carly came to be abandoned in this way or where she has come from.

'We want to hear from anyone who recognises Carly or the fish and chip shop bag the puppies were in, it is quite distinctive.

'All of the information we receive we treat in the strictest of confidence and we would encourage anyone who might know anything to please come forward.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.