A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl was attacked in Woolwich by a staffordshire bull terrier while its beer-carrying owner did nothing to help, police say.

The attack happened while the girl and her 11-year-old brother walked through an alleyway between Ritter Street with Whitworth Road at around 8.45am on December 3.

As the children walked past a man who had his dog off his lead, the animal jumped up and scratched the five-year-old's face, causing her to fall to the ground and hit her head. The dog also bit her in the chest.

Her 11-year-old brother kicked the dog a number of times and pulled his sister off the ground.

The owner of the dog, who did not stop to help, is described as white, large build, in his mid-50s, with grey hair and a bald patch. He was wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and was carrying a can of beer.

Police describe the dog as a white and black staff with a collar and a white belly.

PC Russell Cherrington-Cook, in charge of the investigation, said: "From our initial investigation, it appears that the owner of the dog did not make attempts to help the children and showed a complete disregard for what happened by walking on whilst the attack took place."

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or PC Cherrington-Cook directly on 020 8721 2629.