A grandmother spent three days in hospital after trying to protect her pet from an attack by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

Elizabeth Scrooby was having a picnic with her husband and three grandchildren in Nonsuch Park, when one of her dogs was attacked.

The 56-year-old’s hand was bitten after she managed to prise the attacking dog’s jaws away from her own Staffordshire bull terrier.

In the following days, the hand ballooned in size, forcing her to seek medical attention.

Ms Scrooby, who lives in Netley Close, Cheam, had taken her jack russell, Nala, and her Staffordshire bull terrier, Belle, for an afternoon picnic on Thursday, July 31.

The family were approached by a bullmastiff and a Staffordshire bull terrier, which suddenly lunged at Belle, injuring her.

Ms Scrooby was admitted to the Epsom and St Helier Hospital at 3pm on Sunday, where she stayed until just after 1pm on Tuesday.

The mother-of-two said: “I have contracted cellulitis, a form of blood poisoning, because the cut became infected.

“I have been on a drip and will have to continue to take antibiotics orally at home. It was an awful ordeal.

“One minute we were enjoying a wonderful family picnic, the next minute it was like the apocalypse.

“I just hope the dog does not attack anyone else.

“I am scared it will go for someone or maybe another dog.”

A community nurse, she said the owners of the other dogs looked middle-aged, and left the area after apologising.

The attack came a day after a woman saw her Yorkshire terrier savaged by a dog in Carshalton park.

The incident happened at 9.15am on Wednesday, July 30.

The woman was walking her pet when a large brown dog attacked it, leaving it with cuts to its eyes and head that needed treatment from a vet costing £60.

The woman spoke to the owner of the dog who said she was visiting the area from Scotland and was staying with her mum in Carshalton.

She told the woman where her mum lived, but it turned out to be a fake address.

Police are keen to speak to the woman who is white, aged 45 to 60, about 5ft 4in and with shoulder length blonde hair. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

Anyone with information about either attack can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.