Actor Tom Hardy is pleading for people to help four abandoned puppies who were ‘left to die’ in an east London park.

The Dunkirk and Mad Max: Fury Road star took to Instagram in an urgent appeal for potential new owners after a man rushed them into Battersea Dogs and Cats Home on January 9.

On an Instagram post, he wrote: “New Staffies found and brought to Battersea this am in a box found a park.

“Look at them. I want to house them all 8 weeks old.

“Go see them xxx.”

Mr Hardy’s message received more than 77,000 likes in three days.

The shivering seven-week-old Staffordshire Bull Terriers were discovered in Victoria Park before being taken into Battersea.

Battersea’s intake manager Stephen Craddock said: “These puppies had a lucky escape. The whole experience must have been very frightening for them. It was a cold day and they could have easily got hypothermia, suffocated or died of dehydration.

“Fortunately, they were found in time and - after a drink, a sleep and some TLC - made a full recovery, and now they’re charging about enjoying life with playful puppy enthusiasm.”

After being checked over and found to be in good health the three girls in the litter were named after famous suffragettes to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the women’s vote.

They were christened Emmeline, Lydia and Edith, after Emmeline Pankhurst, Lydia Becker and Edith Garrud, before the only male was named Davison after Emily Davison.