A family have been traumatised after an eight-year-old girl was attacked by a rottweiler.

Hannah Farrell-Gardner, 29, of West Street, Gillingham, was walking to the Strand with her children when the dog latched its jaws around Ava Farrell’s thigh.

Mum-of-three Mrs Farrell-Gardner said: “We were going to the Strand for the funfair, along Parr Avenue, there was a lady with a little girl and two dogs.

“I didn’t think anything of it. Ava walked past, the dog was sniffing her, she said it tried to nip her in the stomach and just latched onto her leg.

“I dragged her away and I looked at her leg. There were two big holes, I was completely panicked and she was screaming. The woman was in shock.

“The dog didn’t growl or bark or give us any warning to get away.”

Mrs Farrell-Gardner went straight home, rang her husband Lewis Gardner, and took Ava to Medway Maritime Hospital.

“They were amazing. They were shocked by the wound and said it was one of the worst they’d seen.

“It was very deep, it had gone through to the muscle. It had to be cleaned out with iodine and she was just screaming in pain, they had to keep the wound open or it would have got infected.”

Ava had to visit the hospital every few days to make sure the wound was staying clean.

Mrs Farrell-Gardner’s son Noah, aged four, also witnessed the attack.

“He was really traumatised by it. He started covering his eyes, he was so upset. He doesn’t like it when we talk about it, he is very nervous around dogs.”

She also said her children haven’t been able to walk down the road where Ava was bitten since it happened. This has caused problems as it is the route they take to get to her school, Burnt Oak Primary.

Ava’s dad, Edward Knowles, lives and works in London, he said: “My daughter has been scarred for life. She has had nightmares since and is afraid to leave the house. We want to pursue dog destruction to ensure that this never happens again.

“How can I trust that my daughter is safe walking to school every day, miles from me?”

Police confirmed they were investigating and a spokeswoman said: “The incident is currently being reviewed by a senior officer.”