An 87-year-old woman has been left "shaken" after a Doberman attacked her three dogs on Great Yarmouth beach.

Sarah King said her elderly mother and a friend were walking their dogs between the Wellington Pier and Pleasure Beach.

The four dogs, including three Shelties, were strolling along the beach when two women appeared in the dunes and a Doberman shot out and attacked the group.

Eastern Daily Press: Ms King has spoken out on behalf of her motherMs King has spoken out on behalf of her mother (Image: Sarah J King)

"Mum heard her eldest dog cry out and she saw her on her back in the sand having been pinned down or flipped over," Ms King said. "As her three dogs ran away, the Doberman chased them."

Two of the Shelties fled across the road while the third ran up to her mother on the promenade.

Her mother was forced to clutch the wall for support in case the Doberman knocked her down as it followed.

READ MORE: Woman in serious condition in hospital after being attacked by XL Bully

Eastern Daily Press: The three dogs were walking with a friend at the time of the attackThe three dogs were walking with a friend at the time of the attack (Image: Sarah J King)

"It went for my mum's dog that was with her and grabbed hold of my mum's leg," Ms King recalled.

"She had a pair of waterproofs over her trousers and the dog grabbed hold of those too before running off to chase the others."

The missing dogs were tracked down with the help of passersby but one of their coats was "ripped to shreds".

Eastern Daily Press: Two of the dogs ran away and had to be recovered by passersbyTwo of the dogs ran away and had to be recovered by passersby (Image: Sarah J King)

Both of the mystery women and their dogs had disappeared by the time the group was reunited.

"Mum was very shaken up and one of the dogs was shaky and withdrawn for a couple of days after," Ms King said.

Ms King, who has been a qualified veterinary nurse for 32 years, said she has seen many dogs with very different temperaments and is sure her mum's Shelties do not "have a malicious bone in their bodies".

READ MORE: Child seriously injured in dog attack

Eastern Daily Press: 'None of these dogs have a malicious bone in their bodies''None of these dogs have a malicious bone in their bodies' (Image: Sarah J King)

"I just want to get the story out there to start a conversation," she said. 

"There are secure dog parks available all over the area, with more popping up all the time.

"There is really no excuse to have a dog with that temperament off lead in a public place."

A spokeswoman for Norfolk Constabulary said they received a report of the incident at 7.16pm on Thursday, May 16, and the officer has organised to speak with the victim.