South London police have reported an increase in so-called lead fighting, when owners taunt their dogs and whip them into a frenzy.

They hold the dogs apart by their leads and let them bark at each other but do not allow them to fight.

The dangerous sport, reportedly practised on the Doddington estate in Battersea Park Road and on estates in Winstanley Road and Ethelburga Street, Wandsworth, is terrifying residents.

Ali Taylor, head of animal welfare and training at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, warned winding dogs up like this could lead them to attack once they are loose.

"The dog would get into a frustrated state," she said. "It would tend to opt for a defensive mode because there is no escape for them while they are kept on a lead.

"They wouldn't normally attack people if they were let off the lead, but they could potentially attack a dog because the owners has encouraged that type of behaviour."

Some residents frightened by lead fighting said they had complained to the police, who claimed they were working hard to reduce the problem.

Inspector Phil Palmer, who leads the Safer Neighbourhoods team (SNT) in the Battersea sector, said: "We work with the RSPCA to educate some dog owners about their legal responsibilities and the consequences of breaking these laws.

"SNT officers now go to Battersea Dogs Home to learn how to recognise and deal with dangerous dogs."

But the dogs often being used for lead fighting are not officially dangerous dogs, but rather Staffordshire bull terriers - a breed that has become a status symbol among some young men seeking a macho image.

Once considered an ideal family pet, Staffs have been turned into a fiercer and sometimes frightening animal.

Ms Taylor said: "Training the dog to be macho and fierce could potentially result in any breed becoming reactive to that."

But police insisted there was not always a lot of menace behind this image.

Insp Palmer said: "The impression some youths convey when they walk around with a certain breed of dog can sometimes be misinterpreted; a number of them are responsible dog owners."