A mother has condemned the actions of a "mindless thug" who set two dogs on her son in an unprovoked attack in Bradford.

Seventeen-year-old Adam Hussain, badly injured his right hand when he scaled a wall and became impaled on a metal spike trying to escape from the dogs, believed to be Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

His mother Nicola Bethell said today: "The dog owner is a mindless thug.

"He saw my son with his friend and ordered the dogs to go and get him. It was completely unprovoked.

"The dogs went wild and chased after Adam. He was terrified."

Mrs Bethell, of Thornbury, said Adam's friend ran to get help during the attack.

She said: "The dogs couldn't reach Adam so the dog owner tried to pull him down from the wall by his leg.

"Fortunately Adam's friend had managed to get some help and an ambulance was called."

Adam, who wants to join the police, was taken by ambulance to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Miss Bethell said: "You can see the bone in his hand, it is very badly injured.

"The doctors said it is too early to know whether or not his hand will fully recover."

Miss Bethell said the attack that happened near the Netto supermarket at Thornbury was not an isolated incident and she hoped the Telegraph & Argus Curb the Danger Dogs Campaign would persuade the Government to toughen up the Dangerous Dogs Act.

"When people heard about what happened to Adam they told me it has happened before," she said.

"A number of people told me that this thug has set his dogs to attack small children before.

"He has to be stopped before someone else is seriously hurt.

"I was so pleased when I saw the campaign in the T&A because it was only days after Adam was attacked.

"I thought to myself fantastic, now maybe something will get done'.

"We have a major problem with dangerous dogs in Bradford and the sooner the issue is dealt with the safer we will all be.

"I love dogs and I realise it is not their fault. The key problem is irresponsible owners."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the attack, which happened last Friday at 3pm, was being investigated.

He said: "We received two reports of incidents involving Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs being used to threaten people in the Thornbury area.

"Inquiries are under way to trace the dogs and their owner."

Anyone with information should contact police on (01274) 376059.

e-mail: jennifer.sugden@bradford.newsquest.co.uk