A series of dog attacks has prompted campaigners into raising a petition.

They are calling on Bradford Council to enforce Government legislation designed to protect the public from dangerous dogs.

And the petition also demands the number of wardens in the Bradford Dog Warden service be increased, with service employees working closely with police to enforce the law.

The petition has been started by Elizabeth Hellmich who runs a community safety campaign called SAFE.

She said the dog warden service in Bradford was good, but needed more support to deal with the number of incidents across the district.

More than 100 people have already put their names to the petition which will be presented to Bradford Council.

The campaign is being backed by Heaton Woods Trust after its chairman Sue Brown was viciously attacked by a Rottweiler.

As previously reported, Mrs Brown received serious injuries to her right arm as she walked in the woods, which are owned by the trust.

Mrs Brown, ironically, was the teacher of Bradford girl Rucksana Khan who was mauled by a dog 15 years ago, an attack which led to the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act.

In another incident, trust member John Tempest helped a walker keep two Alsatians at bay.

The dogs were worrying a herd of cattle in a field between Heaton Woods and Northcliffe Woods, where yet another attack took place a fortnight ago.

Mr Tempest said the dogs cornered the cattle for more than two and a half hours.

"These animals had no collars, they were out of control," he said.

Mr Tempest said concerns about dogs being walked off the lead in Heaton Woods had prompted the trust to put up signs reminding walkers of their responsibilities.

"We put up notices, some of which have been criminally removed," he said.

"There are people who have been abusive when we have asked them to put them on a lead."

Mr Tempest said the trust had contacted MPs Marsha Singh (Lab, Bradford West) and Philip Davies (Con, Shipley) to ask for their support with the campaign.

Mum-of-two Angela Hearns said she would put her name to the petition after a dog in her care was attacked as she walked it near her home in Thornton.

Miss Hearns, 31, said she was suffering nightmares after the attack, which left Blue - her aunt's dog - needing £350 of veterinary care.

The incident happened in fields between Havelock Street and Sapgate Lane.

Blue, who was off his lead, was mauled by a Pitbull-type dog which was also running free.

She said the dog's owner did not try to offer any help either during or after the attack.

"It was just by chance that I didn't take the children with me, it could go for a child next," she said.

To contact Mrs Hellmich about the petition e-mail: elisabethsafe@blueyonder.co .uk or telephone 07815 941459.

e-mail: rebecca.wright @bradford.newsquest.co.uk