An Ipswich dog owner who was left traumatised when she and her pet were attacked while walking in a country park has said she cannot return to the area on her own.

Jane Webber, 47, suffered a scratch to the face during the incident at the Orwell Country Park at about 10.15am on Tuesday.

Mrs Webber, who is partially sighted, was walking around the Bridge Wood area of the park with her one-year-old Norfolk Terrier cross, Toby, when a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog started attacking him.

She said: “I kept calling for the owner to get the dog and I had to hit the dog to get it off. This woman came up behind me, she swore at me and then she started hitting me, she broke my glasses and then she hit me with a ball thrower. As she was walking off she gave my dog a flying kick.”

Mrs Webber’s glasses were damaged in the attack and she suffered a scratch to the face, but Toby is not believed to have suffered any injuries.

She added: “It was just awful. I won’t be going back there, not on my own anyway, just in case.

“You get to know regular dog walkers but I had not seen her before. The last couple of days, Toby has also been growling at dogs he normally plays with.”

Police are appealing for information in relation to the incident.

The offender, described as a white woman, is of slim build, in her mid 20s, with black hair in a ponytail – she is about 5ft 4ins.

She was wearing a blue t-shirt, black cropped shorts and large sunglasses. She had three dogs described as Staffordshire bull terriers or similiar breeds.

A white man with a dog was in the area at the time and is believed to have seen the incident. Officers would like to speak to him or anyone else who may have witnessed the incident.

If you can help, call PC Luke Swain from Ipswich on 101, quoting crime reference IE/13/2591.