A GRANDAD was in hospital for two days after being attacked by an ‘out-of-control’ dog in a park.

Stuart Wadsworth was walking his five-year-old weimaraner, Blue, through Witton Park, Blackburn, when they were set upon by a Staffordshire bull terrier running loose.

The 59-year-old builder was left with five deep wounds to his right calf and left thigh after the terrier sunk its teeth as he fought to save his beloved pet.

Three fellow walkers came to the aid of Mr Wadsworth on Sunday, after the dog appeared alone from ‘nowhere’ to launch its attack on Blue.

Mr Wandsworth, of Preston Old Road said the terrier’s owner arrived in the car park as the group regained control over the dog and police were called.

Officers told the terrier’s owner he had to hand the dog over to be destroyed or face a court summons.

The dog, which left wounds an inch deep, has now been destroyed, police said.

Mr Wandsworth said he would now be wary about walking his dog near other Staffordshire bull terriers in future.

The dad-of-one said: “The dog was out of control.

“I tried to get him off but his jaws were locked so tightly that I had to start hitting him.

“He took a chunk out of Blue’s foot.

“He turned around and locked onto my left leg.

“You do not realise the pain.

“He let go of his grip and then grabbed the other side.

“Another man walking through the park saved my life by hitting the dog with an umbrella.

“He tried to strangle the dog to get him off my leg.

“Another dog walker put a lead around the Terrier’s neck to restrain the dog.”

The grandad-of-one was kept in the Royal Blackburn Hospital for two days by doctors, and was kept on a drip and being given antibiotics.

His Weimaraner suffered injuries to his ankle and paw.

Blue was operated on at the vets and is now recovering at home, which he cannot leave for five days.

Mr Wadsworth said that he had got off lightly and that it could have been a lot worse.

The police arrived at the scene at around 7pm and asked the two owners how they wanted to proceed and Mr Wadsworth said that he wanted the dog put down.

Cllr Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for leisure, said: “It is concerning that someone has been injured in this way.

“These kind of incidents are very rare.

“It is a public park and it is very popular with dog walkers and park users.

“Dog owners have got a responsibility to ensure that their dogs are under control.

“Owners need to be responsible and careful to avoid putting their own safety at risk.”

Cllr Talbot added that the council encourage this because there are children using the park.

He said that it is a very large public park and in terms of enforcement, the council cannot maintain all parts of the park at all times.

A police spokesman said: “He was bitten on the calf and thighs, causing puncture wounds and bleeding.

“We gave the owner the option to come for summons for having a dangerous dog, or he could voluntarily hand the dog over to the police and we would have him destroyed.

“Mr Wadsworth was happy with that agreement.

“He is a dog owner at the end of the day and I think he fully realises that this other owner has not had a huge part to play.”