Three Staffordshire bull terriers attacked a Tipton grandfather as he walked his own dog in the street, leaving him needing emergency surgery.

The animals set on 63-year-old Mick Hipkins as he walked his Yorkshire cross breed called Sammy, in the town’s Windsor Road.

The grandfather-of-two has been told he will need skin grafts to his legs after being attacked just yards from his home yesterday.

He suffered wounds of up to four inches long to his legs and was being treated at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley today.

It is understood a man, who was walking the animals off the lead when the attack happened, fled the scene.

The animals only let him go after a neighbour threatened them with a garden fork.

Pete Evans, aged 69, also of Windsor Road, witnessed the attack at 8.45am.

He said: “The dogs launched themselves at him. They were mauling him for at least two or three minutes.

“He was in a terrible state and shouting for help”.

Police caught two of the animals in nearby Laburnham Road and the third in Elm Avenue.

All three are currently in a secure kennel.

Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 0345 1135000.