AN afternoon walk turned into a nightmare for Laura Jenkins of Coleford and her mother Amanda Tye when they were attacked by dogs on the town's Recreation Ground.

The pair were walking their Rottweiler, Wesley, near to the children's play area on Tuesday, March 31.

Laura, who works as a chef, says she always takes her dog this way at the end of her shift at 2pm, but on this afternoon there was a crowd in the middle of the recreation ground.

She said: "There was a group of people sitting in the middle of the Rec and they were letting their dogs run around the field. We were going to walk towards the Scowles, when these two dogs came running towards us.

"The next thing we knew they were latched onto Wesley's neck and he fell on his back and put his legs in the air. My Rottweiler is as soft as anything and the vet said that was his way of showing he wasn't a threat.

"Rottweilers have a bad reputation, but he didn't retaliate at all. He just lay there squealing.

"The dogs were biting his legs and his ears – they were completely out of control and two girls from the group just stood and watched the whole thing. I tried to get the dogs off Wes, but I was bitten on my hands and leg."

She says she is covered in scratches and bruises and her mother hurt her back when she fell on the floor. Laura had to have stitches at Lydney hospital and has three fingers bandaged.

Laura said: "I was shaken up so much. You never think something like that is going to happen to you.

"Local people need to be warned about these dogs. It could have been fatal if it was a child or a small dog they attacked. I'm so angry about it."

The pet was taken to the vets and needed antibiotics and injections costing around £100, she said.

Witnesses are asked to contact the police on 0845 090 1234.