THESE are the sickening moments when a man 'cruelly' punched a 'petrified and submissive' dog as it cowered on the floor.

One witness to the street attack was so appalled he filmed the abuse on his mobile phone before reporting it to the RSPCA.

Animal inspectors from the charity said they were now urgently trying to identify the man who can be seen punching the American bulldog or similar breed over several minutes.

The attack happened in Hendon Road, Nelson at around 3.15pm on Thursday.

RSPCA inspector Charlotte Booker said: "The witness reported that prior to the camera being turned on the man was violently abusing the dog by kicking and punching it.

"This is an urgent appeal to find the man in the footage and the dog, whose welfare we are extremely concerned about.

"We hope that the images of him and the dog - a large white bull breed, we think probably an American bulldog - along with the location and time this happened will mean that those who know him will recognise him, and call us."

In the video footage released by the RSPCA, the man is seen dragging and carrying the dog, which is not on a lead.

The film then shows him crouching over the the scared animal and punching it in the head before picking it up and carrying it away.

Sharon Ashley, from the Pendle Dogs In Need, charity slammed the attacker as 'scum'.

She said: "It's obviously a horrendously cruel way to treat the dog.

"The scum who did this needs to be identified quickly and the dog taken care of."

Inspector Booker said she believed the alleged attacker lives in the Hendon Road area.

The man in the footage was wearing dark clothing and a black woolly hat.

Inspector Booker said the help of the police would be enlisted once a suspect had been identified.

She said: “This was a sustained attack on a dog which was clearly petrified and submissive and which had to be picked up and carried down the street afterwards.

“Please, if you have any specific information about this man, and where the dog is now, get in touch.”

Anyone with any information should call the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018