A COUNCILLOR says he is racked with guilt after convincing his mother to help out with his re-election campaign– only for her to end up in A&E after being bitten by a dog.

The Liberal Democrat group’s deputy leader on Sunderland City Council Stephen O’Brien was out delivering letters in Grindon on Tuesday, with help from his mam Sharon Boddy.

But he ended up taking her to Sunderland Royal Hospital to have her hand attended too after her fingers were bitten by a dog who was waiting silently behind a letterbox.

Cllr O'Brien said: “I am racked with guilt about my mam being bitten. I had been pestering her for a few days to see if she could come and help me deliver some letters to residents – and when she agreed to help she ends up in A&E with her fingers in shreds after being bitten by a dog.”

Mrs Boddy said: “I’ve been so proud of what Stephen has been doing for our community as local councillor over the past few years and I wanted to help him out in the run up to the elections in a few weeks’ time.

“It was a huge shock to find a dog’s teeth waiting on the other side of the letterbox as I stuck the letter through. It’s been painful and I don’t think I’ll be able to help out with our Stephen’s campaign any more– I just hope it’s all been worth it when the votes are counted on May 2.”