A man has spoken of being 'petrified' when two out of control dogs made a beeline for him as he walked his own pet in a public field next to Marriott's Way in Taverham.

Mark Marshall, 48, was bitten on both hands and on his kneecap, and his dog, Hector was nearly killed in the attack.

The self-employed engineer said: 'A black Staffie-type dog came running towards me and my dog. It went for my dog, pinned it down, and I went to help.

'It bit me on my left hand. And then a tan and white-coloured dog attacked us as well, and bit me on my right hand. The second dog also bit me on my kneecap. I was wearing shorts and police have taken them away to test the DNA. I thought my dog had been killed.'

Mr Marshall, from Ashdown, Thorpe Marriott, said the Staffie-type dog was called Milo. 'The dog's owner was screaming 'Milo'. He was in his mid 20s. He kept saying the two dogs were not his, but they were with him. Neither was on a lead or under control.'

The attack happened at about 11pm on June 2, and Mr Marshall said his dog, which needed veterinary treatment, was still limping now, and he was not sure if it would fully recover.

He spent five hours at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. He said: 'I needed sterostrips to the top of my finger. I've still got scars on my kneecap and canine marks. I was given antiobiotics.

'I was petrified at the time. I could have lost my hand. It bothers me that dogs can be so out of control. People have since told me they have also seen that Staffie in the area.'

Witnesses should call PC Jack Weaver at Aylsham police station on 101.