A dog which appeared in the chart-busting film Calendar Girls has died after being attacked by another dog in a Bradford park.

Derrick Hartley was walking his greyhound Joe in Bradford Moor Park when it was bitten and mauled by a pitbull terrier.

The 59-year-old bus driver said the dog was so badly injured it had to be put down after the incident.

His other dog, a labrador called Benson, was uninjured.

Four-year-old Joe was borrowed from a dog rescue charity in Halifax for the hit film about the Rylstone and District Women's Institute members who shot to fame after they stripped for a charity calendar.

After filming was completed, he returned to the centre before being given a new home by Mr Hartley, of Thornbury Grove, Thornbury

"Joe was a gentle and happy dog, I can't believe this has happened," said Mr Hartley. "We had him for about 14 months after picking him up from the rescue.

"We can't believe this has happened. It all happened so fast."

Bob Lowrie, who runs the greyhound and lurcher rescue near Halifax, said the dog was selected at the request of actress Annette Crosbie, who played the part of WI member Beryl Bamforth in the film.

"He appeared in several scenes in the film with Annette, who does a lot to help raise awareness and funds for greyhound charities," he said.

"She spent months with the dog on set and really looked after him. "She'll be devastated when she hears the news."

Miss Crosbie, who has four rescue racing greyhounds, said she was enraged and deeply upset to hear about the dog's death.

"For a pitbull terrier to be out without a muzzle and allowed to run around a park is against the law and someone should be prosecuted for this," she said.

"Greyhounds are gentle, docile animals who wouldn't harm anyone, and everyone who came into contact with this dog knew how laid-back he was.

"Nothing made him jump on set while we were filming and he was a lovely dog to work with. It's awful news."

Mr Hartley reported the attack to the police, who said they would be looking into the incident.

"We have spoken to Mr Hartley and we have arranged to visit him in relation to the circumstances surrounding his dog's death," said a spokesman.