POLICE are hunting a vicious dog which launched itself at a young Dover mum, her friend and a teenage man in a terrifying attack.

The ferocious animal, thought to be a pitbull or a Staffordshire cross, lunged at mum-of-one Kasey Bowers when she tried to help a man it was mauling.

The South Kent College hairdressing student, 19, said: "We need to get this dog off the streets. It was scary."

Kasey was at her Tower Street home with daughter, two-and-a-half -year-old Kelis and friend Jade Heath, also 19, on October 18 when they heard shouting outside.

She said: "It was about 10pm. We could hear all this commotion outside so went to see what it was.

"There was dog hanging off this lad's leg. He was screaming and the next thing I knew the dog was on me.

"It was frightening."

The former Astor school girl suffered bite wounds to her stomach, her right side and her left leg.

The gutsy mum, who plunged her fist into the dog's mouth in an attempt to stop the attack, said: "It hurt when it bit me in the stomach but I didn't even realise it had got my leg. I was on my hands and knees and it was underneath me. I put my hand in its mouth to stop it.

"There was so much commotion and screaming that it ran off."

Upper Cut beautician worker Jade was also bitten on the knee as she tried to intervene.

Kasey said: "We had to go to William Harvey Hospital. They gave us antibiotics and cleaned the puncture wounds up.

"They didn't say I would have any scarring but I do have a lot of pink marks at the moment.

"It has made me very wary of dogs now."

Police are now hunting for the animal, and its owner, before anyone else is attacked.

Kasey said: "There didn't seem to be an owner with it. It was just out on the street."

The young man Kasey tried to help was also taken to hospital with bite wounds but refused to give his name to medical staff. Police say he may have been called Troy and they would also like to trace him.

He is aged around 18, 5ft 7in tall, of slim build, with dark brown cropped hair. He was wearing jeans and a hooded top.

A police spokesman said the creature must be found before it attacks again. She said: "This must have been a terrifying attack for these young girls, who did not panic and probably averted a worse attack on themselves.

"Kent Police are very anxious for information that will help us find the owner of this dog. We would also like to hear from anybody who has seen the dog or knows where it is so we can take the appropriate action.

"This is very important because next time this could be a young child or an elderly person."

Anyone who can knows who the young man who was attacked is, or has any information about the dog or its owner, can call PC Gary Wright on 01304 240055, South Kent Police on 01303 289180 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.