A dog was badly injured and a woman, believed to be its owner, taken to hospital after a vicious attack by a larger dog.

The horror happened in a residential street yesterday morning.

A builder working nearby rushed to the aid of the smaller dog, thought to be a cockapoo, as it was being attacked by what was thought to be a mastiff.

The Argus: Eaton Place is near the Royal Sussex County HospitalEaton Place is near the Royal Sussex County Hospital (Image: The Argus)

The builder, whose T-shirt was covered in blood, said: "One dog was just going at another, it had it pinned to the floor.

"I tried to stop it and it wasn't letting go, however I eventually managed to throw a metal thing on it.

"Parts of the small dog's skin had been bitten off." 

The man managed to release the cockapoo and he took it to Coastway vets in nearby Freshfield Way, Brighton.

The dog's condition is unknown.

The attack happened in Eaton Place, Kemp Town, shortly after 8am.

The Argus: Small tufts of hair, believed to be the dog's, were found at the scene of the incidentSmall tufts of hair, believed to be the dog's, were found at the scene of the incident (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

One resident said she was woken by the sound of a woman shrieking, thought to be the cockapoo's owner.

The neighbour said: "I heard a girl shout 'help me, help me, help me' three times in a very dramatic way.

"I thought 'it's daylight, surely a man is not attacking her', but my adrenaline went crazy.

"I leapt out of bed, and I went to the window."

She saw three men, the builder and other bystanders, desperately kicking at something behind a car and later realised it must have been the mastiff.

She said: "They were swearing, yelling. This went on for almost 20 minutes."

The neighbour said she saw a woman, thought to be the cockapoo's owner, sitting on the floor holding her leg.

The Argus: Eaton Place is a primarily residential streetEaton Place is a primarily residential street (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Police were called to the scene.

A spokesman for the force said: "Officers responded to a report of a dog attacking another dog in Eaton Place, Brighton, just before 8.10am.

"A person sustained injuries and has been taken to hospital for further treatment. An injured dog was also transported to the vet."
The Argus: The dog was taken to nearby Coastway VetsThe dog was taken to nearby Coastway Vets

Police urged anyone with any relevant information or footage of the incident to report it online or by calling 101 quoting serial 256 of 04/01.