A COUPLE were left with a vet bill for more than �400 after their dog was attacked by two Staffordshire bull terriers running loose on a March open space.

Roger Saltmarsh was walking Scooby, a seven-year-old Maltese cross Lhasa Apso, in the space off Heron Walk on Sunday when the terriers attacked.

The terriers were being walked by their owners, a man and a woman, but were not on leads.

They attacked Scooby and as 67-year-old Mr Saltmarsh intervened, they bit him several times causing a cut and bruising to his left knee.

The owners of the dogs unsuccessfully tried to call them back and eventually managed to pull them away. The victim then asked for the details of the owners, who refused and left the area.

Mr Saltmarsh, of Mallard Way, said: “They don’t know the damage their dogs caused.

“I had never seen them in the area before. The woman made one passing remark that they don’t usually walk in the area. They walked off towards the railway bridge.”

Scooby suffered laserations to the back half of his body, leaving Mr Saltmarsh and his wife Lynda with a vet bill for �428.40.

Mrs Saltmarsh said: “I am terrified that a child or a person with a little dog is going to have the same heartache as us.

“I know that, just a few doors away from where the incident took place, two little girls have a similar type of small dog. They wouldn’t have been able to protect themselves or their dog.”

Police are investigating the incident. A spokesman said: “This was a frightening incident for the victim who was bitten as he tried to protect his own pet.

“I would appeal for anyone who saw what happened, or who has any information to contact police.”

CONTACT: Police on 0345 456 4564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.