Dangerous dog rules delight post service workers

Welsh ministers have begun a consultation on the issue and plan to introduce a new law to protect workers from the animals.

Currently dangerous dogs laws don't apply on private property.

Leeds postman John Allanby is one of 5,000 postal workers the Communication Workers Union (CWU) says are hurt by dogs each year.

He was bitten by a dog while on his rounds last year.

"At one address there is an open drive with a gate to the back garden, but the gate had been left open and the dog ran out and attacked me.

"I can still feel it now. I can't remember how many stitches they put in at the hospital, but it was quite a few.

"The wound still hurts sometimes and the scar's still there."

The CWU has been hounding ministers to protect postal workers since 2008.

General secretary Billy Hayes said today: "We're really pleased that the Welsh government is taking the issue of dog attacks seriously and taking positive action to help prevent dog attacks and deal robustly with irresponsible dog owners.

"England will soon be the only part of the UK without updated dogs laws."