A woman has been ordered to muzzle her dog after it bit a passer-by.

Angela Wright’s bichon frise, Lulu, was being walked by her parents in Chatham when she bit Janet Fleet’s left leg.

Ms Fleet suffered a gash to her leg which has left a scar.

A court heard Ms Wright, formerly of Yew Tree Close, Lordswood, usually employed a dog walker to take Lulu out while she was at work, but on the day in question, the walker was ill so her parents helped out.

Ms Fleet complained to police after the incident but said in statements that the dog had not shown any aggression and had not barked at her.

Ms Wright appeared before magistrates in Medway after civil proceedings were sparked by the complaint.

She did not contest the request from Ms Fleet who applied for the bench to make an order that Lulu be kept under proper control or be destroyed.

Ms Wright said: “Lulu is nervous as opposed to aggressive. She’s been seeing a behaviour specialist and has had further training and is fine with her muzzle.”

Magistrates granted the order and Lulu must now be muzzled and kept on a lead at all times while in public.

Ms Wright, now of Stanhope Avenue, Sittingbourne, was warned if she did not comply with the order she could be back in court facing criminal charges and a fine of up to £2,000.

The Kennel Club’s website describes the bichon frise breed as a “happy little dog with a friendly personality”.