A WOMAN in her 60s fell and broke her arm when a dog appeared out of nowhere and started to attack her and her two pets.

The Echo was contacted by her husband, who did not want to be named for fear of repurcussions, as she was still in a state of shock following the attack in San Remo Road, Canvey, on Tuesday, November 13 while she was walking their two Norwich terriers.

He said the Staffordshire Bull Terrier ran out at his wife, who is retired, and their dogs from behind a van, taking her completely by surprise.

“It’s happening all too often on Canvey and something needs to be done about it,” he said.

“She had to call me back from work sitting in the road because she couldn’t get up.

“She is in real pain, but she’s too frightened to report it to police and was in too much of a state to speak to the owner.”

The couples’ two pets were unharmed, but the woman spent more than four hours at Basildon Hospital’s A&E department afterwards and will be out of action for eight weeks.

Her husband added: “She came off worse.

“She normally avoids Staffs like the plague, but when it comes out of the blue like this there’s not much you can do if you don’t know it’s there.

“We need a way forward on this because it will happen again and it could be more serious.”

A Castle Point Council spokeswoman said: “Whilst Essex Police is the lead authority in respect of the enforcement of the dangerous dog legislation and has trained dog handlers, Castle Point Council will do all that it reasonably can it can to assist them in their enquiries."