A STAFFORDSHIRE bull terrier circled a terrified family “like a shark” in Boscombe – and residents have expressed concern about an increase in dog attacks.

Dorset Police were called to an incident at a home on Churchill Road on Saturday afternoon and neighbours reported seeing the dog run from the premises and into nearby Churchill Gardens as officers entered the property.

One resident of the road, who did not want to be named, said the canine seemed “hyped up and desperate to escape”.

“The police turned up at about 5.30pm, gained entry to the flat and the dog escaped – it shot out the door and went flying into the park,” he added.

“It found a little dog and was running after it like a lunatic.

“The next thing it surrounded a family on a bench in the park – a man, woman and child.

“They had to stand on the bench and the dog was like a shark circling them.

“It must have been so frightening.

“This dog has bitten our neighbour and his dogs several times in the last few months and I have been told others were bitten on Saturday – it is turning into a real problem around here.”

Witnesses said a resident came out of the house with a lead, managing to subdue the animal and return it to its owner.

Resident Bradley Moss, who has two young children, said he had heard the commotion on Saturday night.

However, he was more concerned about an incident at the same park on Sunday morning, where a loose dog resembling a bull terrier attacked a smaller muzzled dog being walked by its owner.

“I was with the kids when I saw it just go for this other dog,” he added.

“There was lots of blood and you could see the little dog’s ear hanging off the side of its head.”

He then described watching the owners shouting at each other loudly before going their separate ways.

“I like dogs but I am scared of what could happen to my children,” added Mr Moss.

“You just don’t know what each dog is capable of.”

Ward councillor Chris Wakefield said: “We expect dog owners to be responsible, to look after them properly and keep them on their leash.

“If anyone sees such an incident their first recourse should be to call the police so they can deal with both the dog and the owner appropriately.”

Regarding the incident on Saturday, a spokesman for Dorset Police said: “It was reported that it looked like the dog was biting people but no one came forward to say they had been bitten.”