These are the horrifying images of a group of nine dogs who were found dumped on the side of a north Norfolk country road at night.

The abandoned animals were discovered wandering in the road with bloodshot eyes and smelling, matted fur sticking in clumps to their thin bodies.

Jessica Craske was driving to her partner's house when she made the discovery.

'I stopped because I thought it was a sheep then noticed there were loads,' she said.

'They were in an awful condition with matted fur and were smelly but they were not aggressive - they just looked really depressed.'

Eastern Daily Press: Jessica Craske discovered the dogs in Creake Road in Syderstone. Picture: JESSICA CRASKEJessica Craske discovered the dogs in Creake Road in Syderstone. Picture: JESSICA CRASKE (Image: Archant)

Miss Craske told how local residents and drivers rallied round to rescue the dogs and take them to safety at a nearby vets.

The 20-year-old from Wells said she rang the police and her partner Ryan Edge, who lives nearby, and he arrived with leads to help round up the dogs.

'Just then, other drivers stopped to help too and in the end every passer-by took one or two dogs to the vets.'

Miss Craske shared an appeal via Facebook to warn others about the possibility of there being more loose dogs in the area.

Eastern Daily Press: Jessica Craske discovered the dogs in Creake Road in Syderstone. Picture: JESSICA CRASKEJessica Craske discovered the dogs in Creake Road in Syderstone. Picture: JESSICA CRASKE (Image: Archant)

It said: 'If anybody in the Syderstone area sees any stray dogs please take them to Grove Vets.

'[The] dogs were dumped in the middle of the road and we've taken all that we could find to the Grove, but there may be more running around.

'They're very big dogs but aren't aggressive, just timid.'

Norfolk Police confirmed that they were called at around 6.50pm on Monday October 15 to Creake Road in Syderstone to reports of a group of dogs wandering loose in the road.

A spokesman for the police said: 'We attended the scene. The person who reported the incident to us took the recovered dogs to The Grove Veterinary Group.

'The RSPCA were informed and the dog warden was notified. We advised if any further dogs were found to take them to the same vets.'

Sam Anderson is the practice director at The Grove Veterinary Group in Fakenham. She confirmed that the practice would be working alongside the RSPCA to help the dogs.

The RSPCA have now issued an appeal for information .