An 83-year-old woman has described her harrowing ordeal when she tried to return a dog's rubber bone.

Patricia Phillips, of Stratfield Road, Slough was near home when she spotted an animal's rubber bone on the footpath and tried to kick it back through a gap in a fence that it seemed to have come through.

But she says the dog inside pushed its head through the gap and grabbed her foot.

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She said: "It put its head through the fence and grabbed my foot so hard I crashed to the ground breaking my hand.

"I was screaming 'help me' as it sank its teeth into my calf muscles. It would not let go and it must have gone on for about 10 minutes before the owner appeared and dragged it off and shut it inside."

Mrs Phillips was taken to Wexham Park Hospital by ambulance where she had to have 20 stitches put in the wound.

She has had to return to see a consultant surgeon.

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She said: "He warned me I might not get back full use of my right hand. I love to play the guitar but don't know if I'll be able to again. I am determined person though so I'm going to have a good try."

The attack happened on December 21. Mrs Phillips' son Robert is furious about the incident and wants the police to take action - he says the dog was a German shepherd.

This week a spokesman for Thames Valley Police said that an ongoing investigation was being held into the incident.