A DOG has been left with deep bite wounds to her leg and shoulder after being attacked in a Hadleigh alleyway.

Lilly, a white fluffy bichon frise, was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier as owner Keith Hayman, 67, walked to the newsagents to collect his morning paper.

As the pair turned into the alleyway leading from Church Road to Hazel Close, they noticed the larger dog coming towards them.

It pounced on seven year-old Lilly, and savaged her for about four minutes.

Mr Hayman, of Church Road, Hadleigh, said: “The dog was with his owner, but she was about 30ft behind as he was on a very long extended lead. We couldn’t get the Staffie off Lilly, it wasn’t until he threw her up into the air that his owner could grab him. It was absolutely awful to watch. Lilly was really severely bitten.”

Lilly spent three hours being treated and cleaned up at the vets, and is now recovering at home.

Mr Hayman wants to warm his neighbours to be vigilant following the attack, which took place at about 8.45am on Saturday.

He said: “I’m worried that now the dog has tasted blood it will strike again. Next time it could be a child. I quite often have my grandchildren with me on a Saturday morning, and it doesn’t even bear thinking about what could have happened if they were there this week.

"I took Lilly out for a walk yesterday and she was very apprehensive.

We only made it a few metres up the road, the attack has really shaken her up.

“The owner of the Staffie wouldn’t give me her name or address. I have been left with a huge vet bill from this but it isn’t about the money, it’s about her taking responsibility and making sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Last week the Echo told how Parson Russell Terrier Coco was left needing life-saving surgery after being attacked by a husky along Canvey seafront.

Earlier this month Rosie, a 12- year-old German shepherd and black Labrador cross, was attacked by a Staffie at the junction of Somnes Avenue and Harvest Road, Canvey.