A NORTH-EAST father is calling for a dog to be destroyed after it attacked his four-year-old daughter.

Police are appealing for help tracing the black and white Staffordshire bull terrier and its owner after schoolgirl Eve Blackett needed hospital treatment.

Her father, Nick, also needed treatment and their mauled puppy, Callie, was taken to a vet and needed 25 stitches for its wounds after it, too, was set upon.

Mr Blackett, of Bishop Auckland, and his family were enjoying a walk at The Batts, in the town, on Tuesday when the attack happened shortly after 7pm.

“We were walking along the riverbank when we heard this voice shouting ‘pick your dog up’ and all of a sudden we saw this bull terrier coming towards us,” he said.

His wife, Pamela, scooped Eve into her arms as the attack began – the dog bit at the youngster’s back and legs, damaging her boots and clothes, while her mother tried to hold it back.

Luckily, Eve was wearing padded clothing, but she was still left with painful scratches on her back.

The terrier then turned on Mr Blackett, who had grabbed Callie, the family’ six-monthold Weimaraner.

“I tried to kick it away but I fell over and then it latched onto her back end.

“That dog was massive, evil. It is bred to kill.

“My wife tried to hold it back – it had a big, black spiked collar on.”

The owner, a man aged 35 to 45 wearing a blue lumberjack shirt, smacked the terrier’s head with a metal pole until it backed off.

Mr Blackett said he then said: “Sorry mate, I was on the phone.”

The terrorised family told him to go away and hurried back home, where they raised the alarm.

Police searched the area, but could fined no clues in the darkness.

The incident has left the family determined to take their own action.

Mr Blackett, 41, who owns a furniture store in Newgate Street, has resolved to track down the owner by writing to homes in the town and hopes the animal will eventually be destroyed. He is also writing THANKFUL FOR PADDED PROTECTION: Dog attack victim Eve Blackett shows damage to her padded boot by the Staffordshire bull terrier Pictures: DOUG JACKSON WOUNDED: The family’s puppy was left badly scarred to schools to warn them.

PC Glen Canvin said the man also had a tan bull terrier with him.

He said: “Had it not been for the quick-thinking of both parents, this could have been a lot worse. This has left them quite traumatised and I would urge people to be vigilant in the area until the dog and owner are found.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Canvin on 0345-60-60-365.