As economic times get tough, pets are some of the first to suffer with thousands of owners now saying they can no longer pay for spiralling food and vets bills.

Half a million pet owners have been reduced to feeding their pet with household leftovers, while two-thirds are having to dig deeper to find an average of £11.04 each week to care for their pets.

More worryingly, one in five say they are dropping essentials such as visits to the vet in a bid to bring the weekly pet bill to under £5, blaming rocketing food prices and rising insurance premiums.

According to a study released by animal welfare charity The Blue Cross, pets from broken homes are the hardest hit as a result of financial pressures, with newly separated couples spending almost £2 a week less on their pets than couples together.

The charity has also found a shocking 19% increase in stray and abandoned animals taken into its centres in the last year, with a total of 979 cats, and 419 dogs left to wander the streets.

Over 4,000 animals were given up voluntarily, many for financial reasons such as the owner being made homeless, having to move house or losing their job.

Laura Sleight, from The Blue Cross, said: "We pride ourselves on being a nation of animal lovers, but the sad reality is that some pet owners can either no longer afford to keep their pets or are unable to provide a suitable home for them.

"Animals add so much to our lives but it's important that people understand the cost, time and commitment involved before taking one on."