A dog died when police refused to intervene and free it from a baking hot car at the weekend.

A female passerby spotted the stricken Terrier inside a locked BMW with German number plates parked at the American Car Festival in Stadtbredimus last Sunday evening.

Panting heavily and scratching at the windows, the pet was clearly suffering, prompting calls to the police emergency hotline 113. But, instead of receiving urgent assistance, the good samaritan was told to mind her own business.

According to reports, police refused to intervene suggesting that the pet's owners knew what they were doing. When the witness suggested she break the window to free the animal, the operator warned she could be charged for criminal damage.

The passerby had no choice but to watch on as the unfortunate creature died in the heat.

Luxembourg police have since released a statement saying that they will investigate the case.