A dog whose body was found tied to a concrete weight in the River Thurne on the Norfolk Broads may have been alive when it went into the water.

It was spotted by concerned members of the public who rushed into the river and pulled it out - but the adult German Shepherd was already dead.

It was found in Potter Heigham on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 13.

The police were called and the RSPCA has launched an investigation into the death and is appealing for information.

The dog was wearing a metal choker collar which was clipped to a short lead and attached to some blue polypropylene rope, tied to a concrete mud weight.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on the dog's body, but it is not thought to have been in the water long.

RSPCA deputy chief inspector Ben Kirby said: 'This is potentially an extremely despicable act, if this poor dog was still alive when it went into the water. And this would mean it was premeditated cruelty of the highest order.

'If the post-mortem shows that this dog was dead then this was still a morally inappropriate way to dispose of a body.

'Sadly, it just doesn't make sense why someone would go to this effort to dispose of a dead animal, and so we suspect the dog could have still been alive when thrown into the water and suffered a horrendous death.

'I am urging anyone who may have any information as to the owner of this dog or who may have seen someone acting suspiciously in the area that afternoon, to contact me on the RSPCA inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018.'

It comes just a month after a shocked walker made the horrific discovery of a drowned dog floating in the River Wensum, north of Norwich.

The female Staffordshire bull terrier was found near to Hellesdon Bridge with her legs wrapped in a navy shopping trolley bag and her body swaddled in a dark green Regatta jacket, tied up by the sleeves.

A veterinary post-mortem examination revealed that the dog was most likely to have died from drowning.

To support the work of the RSPCA and help the charity continue to rescue animals in need please text LOVE to 87023 to give £3 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).

More: Shocked walker finds drowned dog in River Wensum near Hellesdon Bridge