A PEDIGREE dog was in a critical condition last night after being run over on a bridle path by an off-road motorbike.

Flame, a five-year-old Irish red setter bitch which has appeared at Crufts, was hit near Green Lane, Whinfield, Darlington, yesterday afternoon.

The dog bit its owner's top lip as it writhed in agony after the accident. Kevin Swainston, 52, was treated in hospital and will undergo plastic surgery today.

Police are hunting for the youth who ran over the dog on a bright green Kawasaki trial bike.

Mr Swainston was walking with Flame and his four other red setters at about 2pm when he heard the roar of an engine in a nearby field.

"The next thing the bike was just amongst us," he said. "There was nothing I could do.

"He ran over Flame and lost control of his bike."

The teenager, who was not wearing a helmet, hit Flame with such force that the dog was flung into a bush and the biker was thrown over the handlebars.

As Mr Swainston bent down to tend to his pet, the animal bit his face.

"She was squealing because she was in that much pain," he said. "She bit me only because she was in pain and in shock."

The biker apologised and promised to go to Mr Swainston's home, in Muirkirk Grove, to tell his wife, Elizabeth, about the accident.

"But he didn't, he just scarpered," said the father-of-one, a machine operator.

"I took my coat off and wrapped Flame in it and brought her home where we called the vet."

Acting Inspector Dave Kirton, of Darlington police, urged the youth, described as slim, aged about 16 and 5ft 10in with fair, collar length hair, to come forward.

"We want him to come and speak to us before we find him," he said. "There were a lot of people who saw what happened."

Anyone with information is asked to call (01325) 467681.