Dog walkers are urging owners to keep their pets on leads following a string of dog attacks in a park.

Bailey, a seven-year-old Labrador-Collie cross, had been enjoying a walk in Boxtree Park, Harrow Weald, with his owner’s mother when he was attacked by two dogs who had been let off their leads.

The brown, smooth-coated dogs are alleged to have raced over from the other side of the park, attacking Bailey before his walkers shouted at a young man to put them back on their leads.

The owner’s mother, who does not wish to be named, said: “Bailey was on a lead and didn't even woof to attract attention.

“We weren't walking towards them, it wasn't a dog fight - it was an unprovoked attack by dogs that ran the length of the park to get to him.

“I managed to grab the collar of one of them and hold him back while letting go of Bailey's lead so that he could run to my friend who was walking with us, looking after my other son's dog.

“I just wonder what would have happened if I had had my three-year-old old granddaughter trotting at my side instead of Bailey.”

After reporting the incident to the police, the woman – who is in her 60’s and injured herself falling as she tried to prise apart the dogs – returned to the park to find out whether others had witnessed similar events.

Finding they had, she posted on community website Streetlife to give her story, to which many others relayed similar accounts.

User Shameer S said: “I used to take my dog there until I heard a terrible story from another dog owner who I meet on the streets.

He saw a dog being attacked by two other dogs almost to a deathly experience and the owner disowned the situation like it was nothing.

“I now very rarely go to Boxtree Park unless on a busy weekend.

“We need to keep an eye on the owner of these two dangerous dogs and report him somehow.”

Fellow user ‘bicycle love’ added: “My brother who was passing by was involved in an incident where the two dogs attacked a small dog for quite a long time in the park.

“I am pleased to say the little dog didn't die but my brother was distraught by the attack.”

Bailey suffered a puncture wound and bruising in the attack, but is now back home recovering from his ordeal.

A statement from the Dogs Trust said: “If the incident was solely dog on dog, then unless it could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt a person reasonably feared they would be injured then it wouldn't be an offense under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.”

The trust added police and councils can apply for a court order on a dangerous animal, and that police now have new powers to issue a Community Protection Notice to prevent attacks from happening.