Five newborn puppies each weighing the same as an apple were found abandoned in a cardboard box.

The discovery was made last week in a north Wales village near Wrexham.

A member of the public came across the litter believed to be just one-week-old as they all of their eyes were still closed., reports Wales Online.

Dogs don't open their eyes until they are around one to two weeks old and it is unclear how long they were in the box before being found but flies had started to lay eggs inside.

The kind-hearted stranger who came across them thankfully took them to the nearest vets in New Broughton where they were nursed to full health for a few days before being moved to RSPCA Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre in Colwyn Bay.

One of the girls has since opened her eyes and they are thought they could be Jack Russell Terriers.

Now being cared for round the clock with bottle feeding every three hours, thankfully the three males and two females are all making good progress.

The RSPCA have since appealed for more information about them and how they came to be left in a box.

Centre manager Victoria Williams said: “Luckily the puppies were found before it was too late.

“We think they were only about a week old when they were abandoned and at that very young age they obviously wouldn’t have survived for any length of time on their own.

“Thankfully they are now all making good progress and being bottle fed by us every three hours, although we remain very concerned for the welfare of the mother dog as she will no doubt be really missing her babies.

“It’s just very sad that despite all the education by animal welfare charities there are still some people who are failing to neuter their pets, resulting in distressing incidents like this.”

Anyone who has any information about the puppies should contact the RSPCA’s appeals line in complete confidence on 0300 123 8018.