Licensing officers say they are monitoring an ‘explosion’ in the number of people breeding dogs without a licence and advertising them for sale on social media.

Sharon Beynon, senior licensing officer, said: ‘There is a massive explosion in dog breeding. We see it on social media all the time. People will say they have only done one litter, but then you will see them back on there at a later date with more.’

Under current legislation a licence is needed if someone is earning £1,000 or more.