A snarling three-legged black Staffordshire bull terrier launched a horrific attack on a pair of Yorkshire terriers who were being walked by a pensioner.

Penny Boorman, 67, had been enjoying an afternoon stroll around Bethersden village today with her beloved pets six-year-old Suzie and Bertie Junior (BJ), three, when the dog made its terrifying charge across School Lane.

A sobbing Mrs Boorman said: “It had the back of BJ in its jaws. I was screaming and kicking the Staff but it didn’t make any difference.”

Mrs Boorman managed to grab her pet when the Staffie released its grip for a second and she lifted him on top of a hedge outside a house thinking he would be safe there.

But the collarless Staffie leapt up, forcing Mrs Boorman to run into the garden with BJ, where they were pursued by the attacking dog.

She then tried to scramble over a fence to get into a neighbouring garden in a bid to escape, but fell over.

Neighbour Eric Vallas heard Mrs Boorman’s screams and came outside to take BJ into his house.

"It had the back of BJ in its jaws. I was screaming and kicking the Staff but it didn’t make any difference" - Penny Boorman

In the meantime Suzie had run off towards Bull Lane where Mrs Boorman lives and she too had fortunately been rescued by a neighbour.

BJ has suffered injuries in the attack, which took place between 1.30pm and 2pm today, and cannot walk and is now being assessed by a vet.

Mrs Boorman said: “I’ve rung the police who said they are sending a patrol car here but children are due out of the primary school any minute and I’m terrified that the dog is on the loose and it might attack one of them.”

A Kent Police spokesman said: “Kent Police was informed that a dog was loose in the School Lane area of Bethersden after it allegedly attacked another dog.

"Officers attended and conducted an area search but the dog could not be found.”

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