A woman was bitten when she picked up her pet to protect it from an aggressive dog in a town centre park.

Police have seized a large dog and an investigation into the biting incident has been launched following the attack at noon today in Brenchley Gardens, Maidstone.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: “We were called at 12.25pm today to a report that a woman and her small white dog had been bitten by another dog, described as large and brown, in Brenchley Gardens at Station Road, Maidstone.

"Police officers and South East Coast Ambulance Service went to the scene where the woman received medical attention for an injury to her arm.

“The large brown dog was seized by police officers and inquiries are on-going into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Anyone who saw the incident is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference 08-0542.”

A dog walker who claims to have felt threatened by the dog says he has complained countless times about the behaviour of college pupils in Brenchley Gardens.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “There is a group of college kids who hang out in Brenchley Gardens and we have all been threatened.

“We have phoned the police for months and months and knives have been found in the bushes.

“The same dog has bitten another dog today and as a woman has gone to help it she has been seriously bitten as well.

“These kids are only 17 or 18 and they have been terrorising over in Brenchley Gardens.

"There are around 20 of us dog walkers and not one of us has had a response from the dog warden and the police didn’t want to know.

“It has taken someone to get bitten for police to get involved.”