Scum. No, lower than scum. Slime.

They had paid to have their much-loved pets cremated and some had forked out extra so they could keep the ashes.

Now the dog owners have learned to their horror that the ceremonies never took place and that the bodies of their pets were dumped in a field.

The corpses of four dogs were identified by their microchips after they were found by a walker.

Mother-of-three Linda Allen, 53, of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, was heartbroken when her family’s chocolate-coloured border collie called Bournville had to be put down last month because he had developed cancer in his head.

The family paid £120 to have him cremated alone, rather than with other dogs.

They were given a container, supposedly with his ashes inside, and a death certificate with the letters RIP on the bottom.

But three days later they were contacted by police and told that Bournville’s body had been found alongside at least three others in a field...