Dog attacks on postmen increase

Mr Stone was attacked and bitten on his rounds

Dog attacks on postmen in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire increased by 50% during the school summer holidays last year, post office officials have said.

One postman had 21 stitches after a dog attacked him in Langley Mill in Derbyshire, the Royal Mail said.

Figures show attacks increase in the summer because children are at home and leave the doors open.

The number of incidents in the area rose from 18 to 27 during the school holidays in 2007 compared to 2006.

For the full year, there were 144 dog attacks - a rise of 12.5% on the 128 incidents throughout 2006.

'Traumatic experience'

Postman Phil Stone, who lives in Nottinghamshire, was attacked by a dog while on his round in Alfreton in February 2007.

"I thought I was going to die that morning. The man had told me that the dog would not hurt me. But the dog walked around me twice and then just grabbed my face," he said.

Mr Stone returned to work following the attack, but has had counselling.

"It was such a traumatic experience I don't trust any dog now except my own," he said.

Even the most placid animal can be prone to attack Adrian Lovejoy, Royal Mail

Adrian Lovejoy, from the Royal Mail, said dog owners must keep their animals under control or deliveries can be stopped.

"We are not claiming that all dogs in our area are dangerous, but even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being threatened.

"We have had to suspend deliveries to a number of addresses because dogs are on the loose and it is not safe for our postmen and women."

The Royal Mail also gives sonic alarms to postmen to ward off roaming dogs. The alarms give out a high-pitched frequency which cannot be heard by humans but keep animals safely at bay.