Young Benjamin Heels is recovering after a German shepherd dog locked its jaws around his hip and hurled him into the path of an oncoming car on a busy Norwich road.

The Mile Cross nine-year-old was mauled by the hound on Tuesday evening around 6.15 while walking to his friend's house.

The dog which was on a lead sunk its teeth into his flesh.

Benjamin now struggles to sit down and walk without strong pain killers.

'As I was walking past it looked at me and then jumped,' he said. 'It wiggled me about and threw me on the road.'

A car slammed on its brakes and a nurse got out who helped Benjamin get to his friend's house.

His mother Anita is now appealing for the nurse to come forward so she can thank her.

Norfolk police confirmed they were investigating the attack.

The owner apologised but Anita, 28, believes the dog should now be muzzled to stop any further attacks on children in the area.

The mother-of-four said: 'The dog just went for him. When I told the police they said, 'what did he do to provoke it?' 'My son was just walking back to his mate's house. He has got three puncture wounds and a massive chunk of skin missing and massive bruising. It was completely unprovoked. He is in a lot of shock.'

The Bluebell Road primary school pupil, who lives in Shorncliffe Avenue, had spent the afternoon building a den with his two friends.

Numbing the pain with codeine brave Benjamin kept going to class last week to say goodbye to his friends as he is moving to Mile Cross School today (Monday).

His mum took him to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where 191 people were treated for dog bites last year - up from 171 in 2010 and 167 in 2009.

Norwich South MP Simon Wright, who has campaigned for tougher laws on dangerous dogs, said: 'I'm very sorry to hear of this latest in what has been a string of incidents.

'This part of Norwich seems to see a particular high number of incidents involving dogs. It is the responsibility of dog owners to make sure that their dog is kept under control at all times.'

Government proposals to tackle dangerous dogs are set to be announced later this month.

Have you got a story about a dog attack? Email tom.bristow@archant.co.uk.