Boy, 5, attacked by dog in town centre

RICHARD BATSON

Five-year-old Ashley Ward is nursing scars after a dog attacked him in a busy town centre.

The youngster was looking in a shop window when an alsatian tied up outside bit his face.

A bloodied Ashley ran crying into the arms of his parents - and police are trying to track the owner of the dog.

The incident happened at North Walsham at 10am on Saturday outside Martin's newsagents in Church Street.

Mum Jane had nipped inside with Ashley and his younger brother Tristan, four, to get some cigarette papers, before dropping the boys off with their father, Melvin.

"We came out of the shop. Ashley went to look at something. I was rolling a fag when I heard him crying," said Mrs Ward.

"There was blood all down his face. I panicked, like any parent would, and was more concerned about my son than getting details of the dog owner who came out of the shop and said he would report it to the police, but he never did."

She described the man, who headed off towards Hall Lane, as "oldish, in his 50s, tall with a moustache".

Ashley ran to his father, who was waiting near the Market Cross, and was given first aid by a man from the nearby chip shop before an ambulance and police arrived.

He was taken to Cromer hospital for treatment to cuts to his nose, forehead and cheeks.

Mr Ward, from Lynfield Road, said his son was recovering well but "constantly talking about it" and though his wounds were, he hoped, superficial, the attack had made him scared of dogs.

Mrs Ward, of Howlett Close, said: "My son had a lucky escape, but we need this dog found, before it does it again, when it could be more serious."

Police last night confirmed they were seeking the dog owner and witnesses. Contact PC Jason Pegden at North Walsham on 0845 456 4567.