A woman and her dog suffered serious injuries when a Staffordshire bull terrier attacked them.

The 44-year-old victim and her four-year-old Lhasa Apso dog, were on a grassed area off Byland Avenue, towards Monkton Road, around 4pm on Friday when the animal, which was off lead, attacked.

The owner intervened and picked her dog up, but the staffie bit her wrist and left her with three puncture wounds.

She was able to run off to safety and took her dog to the vets to get two wounds drained and stitched. The owner later attended hospital for treatment and a tetanus jab.

Police believe the dog responsible for the attack is a large black Staffordshire bull terrier-type with brown speckles in its coat.

It was not on a lead at the time of the incident but the woman who owns it was nearby and tried to assist.

She is described as white, medium build, aged mid 40s, around 5ft 5in tall with short dark hair which is slightly longer on one side. She was wearing a turquoise care workers-type uniform, black trousers and a pink waterproof jacket.

PC Louise Harness, of the York Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This was a deeply upsetting experience for the woman and her dog and it is important that the owner of the Staffordshire bull-terrier-type dog comes forward to assist the police investigation as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 101 or email louise.harness@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk quoting reference number 12140143077.