VICIOUS dogs savaged a man and bit a boy in two separate incidents within an hour on the same road in Bournemouth.

A 23-year-old Southbourne man called 999 when he was attacked by two fierce dogs in the shopping precinct outside TJ Hughes on Christchurch Road, Boscombe.

He was treated by an ambulance crew at the scene and taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for treatment to bites to his legs, back and stomach.

Another man who appeared to be responsible for the dogs and one other dog, was seen walking off towards Hawkwood Road after the attack.

Less than an hour later at about 6pm the second victim, a 13-year-old boy from Charminster, was waiting for a bus with two friends outside a Jobcentre at Christchurch Road when he was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier-looking dog.

The dog bit him on the top of his leg and the schoolboy's mother reported the attack to the police at 6.20pm.

A man who was wearing a white vest and blue baseball cap was seen to walk off with this dog and two other dogs in the direction of Pokesdown.

Police said two of the dogs looked like Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs and the other was a mongrel.

A police spokesman said that officers are looking at CCTV evidence. He said: "Officers are keeping an open mind as to whether the two incidents are linked."

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with any information to contact them on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Dorset Police have just released details about the incidents on Friday, September 14.