A woman watched helplessly as her tiny Yorkshire terrier was savaged by a greyhound.

Jackie Dillon described how two men let their dog off its leash and looked on as it killed her beloved Fergie.

The alleged attack followed a similar incident thought to have involved the same greyhound just days earlier and dog walkers in Saltdean claim its owners are deliberately setting it loose to attack smaller breeds.

Mrs Dillon, 67, said: "I was devastated. It was the worst thing I've ever seen in my life."

Mrs Dillon, a retired clerical assistant, of Tumulus Road, Saltdean, was walking three-year-old Fergie on the Undercliff Walk between her home and Rottingdean last Saturday.

Two men who had been walking in the same direction 50 yards ahead suddenly turned around and let their greyhound off its lead.

The dog bounded toward Fergie, who ran away in terror and slipped her collar. The greyhound caught up with the smaller dog and sank its jaws into her, throwing her up in the air and breaking her neck.

Mrs Dillon said: "She was on an extendable lead and I had tried to get her back in but the other dog moved so quickly. It wasn't a racing greyhound - it was a huge, muscular dog.

"These men never made any attempt to call their dog off. They didn't even shout or make any attempt to come towards me. I don't blame the dog. It was just chasing a small, furry animal as greyhounds do.

"It wasn't a vicious dog. The people to blame are its owners. I'm sure they did it intentionally."

Mrs Dillon raced to 5lb Fergie's aid but was too late to save her.

Meanwhile, one of the men grabbed the greyhound while the other said: "I need a cigarette." They both made off with the dog in the confusion that followed.

Gail Burgess, who runs Allsorts Dog Rescue in Hassocks, said: "When we rehome greyhounds we always give the owner a muzzle for the dog and tell them to use it.

"Although they are not classed as dangerous animals and are really nice dogs, they are capable of getting hold of small, furry animals and you have to be more responsible with a greyhound than with most dogs."

The attack is being investigated by Brighton and Hove City Council animal welfare officer Maggie Holland, who confirmed the dog and its owners had not been traced.

She said: "If people are out with a small dog and they see what they believe to be this dog they should pick up their dog, turn around and walk away as quickly as possible."

She urged owners of greyhounds to muzzle their pets in public.

The dog walkers are described as two men in their late 20s or early 30s. One was about 6ft with cropped hair and wore denim. The other was slightly shorter with longer hair.