CANVASSING for elections can be a testing time - as a councillor found out when he required hospital treatment for a groin injury after being bitten by a potential voter's dog.

Hyndburn councillor Brian Roberts was canvassing in the Springhill area when he was attacked by the alsatian.

Coun Roberts had called at a property in Slaidburn Drive and was speaking to the resident about the upcoming by-election today. During the doorstep conversation the occupant's alsatian escaped from the house and sank its teeth into Coun Roberts's groin.

The Conservative councillor was taken to hospital, where he was believed to have been given eight stitches to bite wounds before being released.

The council's dog warden was contacted but due to the extent of his injuries the matter was passed on to the police.

Dog warden Steve Wood said: "Alsatians are not usually vicious dogs but if they do attack they are inclined to go for the tender areas of the body."

The attack caused many jokes at Hyndburn's full council meeting on Tuesday night.

During a debate on the work undertaken by the dog warden, Coun David Myles, Altham ward, noted that 13 dangerous dogs had been captured in the borough over the past five months and then asked How many of these have been in Springhill?' Speaking after the meeting Coun Myles said: "It is dangerous stuff this campaigning!

"But joking aside it must have been quite a horrendous experience."

Coun Malcolm Pritchard, Labour, also teased his colleague by quoting the words of the well-known pop tune Who Let the Dogs Out?' - a song used by rival footballers' wives to taunt each other.

Coun Pritchard later added: "It must have been very painful and I feel quite sorry for him.

"When Coun Graham Jones was campaigning in the May elections in Oswaldtwistle he had his hand bitten by a Jack Russell as he put a leaflet through a letterbox.

"It's not quite the same but we can understand Coun Roberts's pain."

Coun Roberts, who represents the St Oswald's ward, confirmed that there was an incident but would not comment further.

Inspector Terry Woods, of Accrington police, said that the matter had been investigated.

He added: "The police have received a report of a dog bite incident on Slaidburn Drive in Accrington which happened on September 14.

"I am unable to confirm the identity of the people involved."