Police search for rampaging dogs

Armed police were involved in a helicopter search for two dogs which killed two cats in Cambridgeshire.

Officers warned residents to stay in their homes after the animals, believed to be large pit bull-type dogs, were spotted at about 0720 BST in Cambridge.

The police helicopter went to help with the search in Kendal Way.

One of the dogs was hit by a car and suffered serious injuries before it was cornered by officers and dog wardens. The other was still on the loose.

Marie Howard, 34, watched one of the rampaging dogs attack and kill one of her pets.

'Killed by dogs'

She said: "I heard what I thought were cats fighting so I went outside to see a huge dog shaking a cat in its mouth.

"I screamed at them and shouted at them to let it go and it was only when I got close up I found it was one of my pets.

"I picked her up and ran away but she died."

Neighbour Kerry Beggs saw the vicious attack and then her 15-year-old son Sam went with his father to look for the animals.

She said: "Someone round the corner found fur in their garden and then they found their cat underneath a car - it had been killed by the dogs too.

"My son managed to corner them in a garden and one of the dogs went for him, but thankfully he managed to close the gate in time.

"It's very lucky it was so early, because there weren't any children around. Who knows what could have happened if it had been a bit later."

A force spokeswoman said armed police had been deployed for the safety of the public and that the dogs' owner was from the area and had been contacted.

She added any decision to put the animals down would be taken by the dog wardens.