A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and possessing a dangerous dog after it is said to have fatally attacked a springer spaniel in Dover.

The dog, described as looking like a Staffy and Pit Bull cross, is alleged to have attacked Karen Macdonald's eight-year-old dog Petal in Military Road at around 10.15am today.

Ms Macdonald, 58, of Lancaster Road, was out walking her pet when the dog attacked Petal by the leg and allegedly bit down so hard that her leg "twisted round three times."

Her daughter, Wendy Sedgwick, 39, of Chamberlain Road, said: "I'm devastated. It would have cost £3,000 to repair her leg and they just don't have that sort of money.

"My mum is just beside herself, she's devastated she couldn't stop it."

She claimed her mum and three passers-by tried to get the dog off Petal but to no avail. Eventually, the owner came over and "hurled abuse" at them.

Petal was put down soon after the incident.

Ms Sedgwick said: "She stayed strong for my mum, right to the end."

Kent Police confirmed they received a report of a dog-on-dog attack and officers attended the scene.

The dog was seized in Market Square, and a 42-year old man from Dover was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer and being in possession of a dangerous dog.

The man is in custody and inquiries are ongoing.

Ms Sedgwick said: "It needs to be highlighted to other people to keep dogs on leads, you don't know what's going to happen in a second and now we've lost poor Petal."