A woman was attacked by a dog as she walked across a Poole common.

The dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier, bit the shocked walker on her ear and mauled her arm during the attack.

She was left frightened and nursing bruising, cuts and grazes.

The 43-year-old victim was walking her own dog near Parvalux Electric Motors, on Wallisdown Road, on Turbary Common, when the drama unfolded around 9am.

Police constable Kelli Walker, of North Bournemouth police, said: “The victim was left extremely shocked by the incident – fortunately her injuries were not worse.”

The terrier was brown and white, wearing a pink collar, is thought to be a female, and possibly goes by the namename of Rocky.

Officers are particularly keen to speak to the dog’s owner, who was described as a white woman, aged 30-40, between five feet four inches and five feet six inches tall, of slim build and with shoulder-length brown hair.

She was walking three other dogs and is believed to live locally.

PC Walker continued: “I am appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident, and anyone with any information about the dog’s owner, to contact me as soon as possible.

“I would also urge the dog’s owner to do the right thing and come forward. I wish to find out exactly what happened.”

The attack happened on March 2, but officers only released details of the incident yesterday.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 222 222.