A worried dog owner feared his pet was going to be killed after a man threatened to run him over.

Martyn Carter, 71, was walking spaniel Ziggy along a footpath in Witham, close to Armond Road, at the time of the incident on Friday morning.

Mr Carter, a retired quantity surveyor, says his usual walking route had an unauthorised traveller encampment on it, but walked through.

During this time dogs belonging to the travellers began barking at Ziggy and, as he approached Armond Road, a man drove up behind him in a van.

Mr Carter said: “At that point I was only 20 metres from Almond Road and past the travellers.

“I then heard a truck behind me on the footpath and the driver was revving up the engine deliberately.

“At that point I turned around and went to the driver’s cab and said: ‘Do you realise you are on a public footpath?’

“The driver said: ‘We have travellers’ rights and I am going to run your dog down.’

“He immediately sped off towards my dog and I shouted to my dog who fortunately jumped out the way.”

The driver drove off into Almond Road and Mr Carter made an emergency call to the police.

Ziggy escaped unharmed and has been back to the site since the travellers moved with no further incidents.

Mr Carter said: “It was quite a concerning incident to say the least.

I walk through there several times a day, every day, lots of people do. It’s a popular thoroughfare.

“What’s so annoying is all of us have to comply and work within the law and pay taxes, but they just turn up.”

The matter was reported to Essex Police, but the force was unable to take further action as Mr Carter did not wish to act as a witness in any future prosecution.

The Essex Countywide Traveller Unit was made aware of this encampment on the same day.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “Both an traveller unit officer and local police attended site on the same day and carried out their respective assessments.

“The traveller unit were managing this case through the local authority powers available.

“The police updated the traveller unit on Sunday to say the encampment had vacated the area and district.”