Swinton has the heaviest pooches in the country

A study by Pets at Home found almost half of pooches in the town weigh more than they should.

The study saw more than 500,000 weigh-ins across the country, with the average dog weighing 22 per cent more than it should.

Dr Maeve Moorcroft, veterinary advisor for Pets at Home, said: “It’s interesting to see that on average the nation’s dogs are struggling to maintain their ideal weight.

“One of the things many pet owners struggle with is not spoiling their beloved dog with too many treats and snacks, for example cheese and chocolate, which can be harmful to their health.

“However, just as in humans, eating too many treats and carrying extra pounds can have consequences for canines, including damage to joints, bones and ligaments, problems with breathing and digestion and even quality and length of life in extreme cases. 

“That’s why it’s important for pet owners to feed a balanced, nutritious diet to their dog.”

Similar high results were found Edgware, in North London, Dundee, in Scotland and Beckton, in east London, where 47 per cent of dogs were found to be over their guideline weight.

Closest to the ideal weight was County Durham's Consett, where dogs are just 0.99 per cent overweight.