Guinea pigs were left abandoned in a bag under a tree.

Angry animal lovers labelled the perpetrators “scum” on the internet after the five guinea pigs – including three which were pregnant – were left in Climping Road, Ifield, Crawley.

They were discovered by a dog- walker who rescued them and called Bobtails Rescue Centre in Epsom, Surrey.

Bobtails took the guinea pigs in and the animals appear to be none the worse for their ordeal.

A spokeswoman from Bobtails said the incident had not been reported to the police because they did not have any leads.

She added: “We received a call from a man who had been taking his dog for its morning walk, when it darted off and found a woven nylon sack tied up under a tree.

“Luckily the gentleman was able to reach the sack and was shocked to find it contained five guinea pigs.

“He contacted us to see if we could take them in. 

“Happily they are all healthy, we have two males and three females whom we believe to all be pregnant.

“Dumping animals is cruel, irresponsible and also illegal. They would not have survived long. It would only have been a matter of time before they were found and killed by either a dog or fox.”