A 38-year-old woman has been banned from keeping animals for eight years after she abandoned four dogs leaving them living in squalor.

The animals couldn't rest anywhere in Michelle Brown's house without touching faeces and licked a toilet bowl dry to get water.

Neighbours also spotted them regularly licking condensation off the windows of Brown's then home in Thornton Park, Dalton.

Police and Barrow Borough Council raided her address after concerned neighbours raised the alarm about the distressed animals on December 28, last year.

Four dachshund-type dogs – Vince, Bo, Ffloyd and Tia – were rescued by the authorities and checked over by a vet and found to be dehydrated and underweight.

Brown appeared before District Judge Gerald Chalk yesterday to be sentenced. She was found guilty in her absence two weeks ago after she failed to turn up at court.

RSPCA prosecutor Mr Steven Marsh said Brown had been warned several times by their inspector Will Lamping about the welfare of the animals since 2014.

He told the hearing: "Neighbours became increasingly concerned about the animals as they were licking condensation off the windows. They looked skinny and in distress. Initially the dogs were barking but that got quieter and quieter.

"When police went in they were hit with the overwhelming smell of faeces. There was faeces all over the floor and furniture which was getting mouldy. There wasn't one clean area in the house for the dogs to sleep and rest without touching faeces. there was an empty bag of dry dog food in the bathroom and empty water bowls. They had drank the water out of the toilet.

"On a scale, three of them were level three of nine and the other, four of nine. One was emaciated.

Brown, of Wellington Street, Dalton, was found guilty of two counts of failing to be responsible for an animal's welfare.

Mr Trystan Roberts, defending, said: "Miss Brown is extremely distressed at the condition the dogs were found in. Sadly the last two years of her life things have spiralled out of control.

"She was in a relationship and had two grown-up children living at home and she became ill and had anxiety and depression.

"Her life became chaotic and she was having issues with her neighbours and moved to live with her parents. She didn't like going back to the house because of the memories but would go there at night and give them water and food."

Judge Chalk gave her a 12-week curfew between 8pm and 6am and ordered her to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £60.

She was banned from keeping animals for eight years.

Mr Lamping said: "I'm pleased she has been disqualified from keeping animals. These dogs were neglected over a long period of time and she shouldn't be allowed animals in her care.

"She had many opportunities to work with us but refused.

"I would like to thank the neighbours who contacted us."