A MAN is urging dog owners to be vigilant after his young son was attacked in a Flintshire park.

Harley Rushton, 25, was playing Hide and Seek with his four-year-old son, Kian Walker-Rushton at Level Road park near Ffordd Pel-Y-Dryn, Hawarden when he was attacked by a Staffordshire Terrier dog.

The young child had walked across to the bushes on the field when his father heard his screams and ran over to find him being dragged across the floor by his trousers.

Mr Rushton told the Leader that when trying to get the dog off his son he was attacked by the owner who repeatedly hit him with the dog's lead before he was bitten on the arm by the canine.

He said: "My injuries were quite bad and my son has a mark on his leg. My little lad has got a dog of his own, a Staffy, which I bought as a puppy so they could grow up together and be best friends. I trained it myself and we have never had issues but now he's wary of his own dog. It has caused some upset.

"I don't really go out much but even I find myself wary of leaving the house now. The scary thing was, when she was getting in my face it was complete fear. Not only was she riled up but the dog was too and the dog is going to protect its owner.

"My opinion on dogs on leads has changed since this incident, I would never walk my dog on a lead and I would find people would cross before walking past me but now I think if this can happen then they should be on leads.

"It you have a hyper dog that doesn't get out much or is aggressive then make sure it wears a muzzle or is on a lead."

The incident happened about 6.45pm on Saturday, September 15 and police are looking to trace the dog owner who left the scene.

The woman is aged between 30-40, with blonde hair, about 5ft 7in tall and average in build, she was also wearing a blue coat and jeans.

Mr Rushton said a woman who lived nearby was trained in first aid and she helped him out.

The 25-year-old, who has lived in the area about 12 months, said: "The park is quite popular, it's quite an upbeat area. The crime is low and so there's a lot of kids about but that day was quiet, she might have thought it an opportunity to walk her dog but it's nice to know the owner wouldn't intervene or show remorse.

"When it first happened the owner looked as though she was walking towards the exit, past the dog and so if the dog was going to lose it there would be no owner to stop it because it won't listen to what anyone else tells it to do.

"I think people need to realise that no dog is going to be reliable. I was told this dog first went over to my boy and sniffed him before the attack, they can be unpredictable. Just keep them on a lead and be careful, especially around children, or you will lose your dog and have consequences yourself and no-one needs it.

"Just be vigilant. I don't want anyone else's child getting attacked."