Dogs Trust have warned people not to give their dogs chocolate over the Easter season.

The charity said many people remained unaware of the severe risks to pets, posed by common foods and plants that are popular this time of year.

Chocolate can be poisonous to dogs as it contains a substance called theobromine, the charity said.

Symptoms of theobromine poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, excitability, drooling, seizures and potentially kidney and heart failure.

Dogs Trust has warned owners should ensure children and visitors do not feed their dogs any chocolate.

Dogs should also avoid grapes, raisins and onions.

Owners can feed their pets cucumber, strawberry and cheddar cheese cubes as alternative treats to chocolate.

Owners should keep their dogs on a lead during Easter Egg hunts and never leave chocolate unsupervised, such as cakes cooling on worktop surfaces.

Dogs Trust also advise owners to make sure their bins are dog-proof and to keep an eye on their dogs as they eat discarded food that may be harmful.