A woman told how she tracked down a "dangerous" dog which bit her on the arm in an unprovoked street attack.

The 43-year-old victim gave a running commentary to a police operator on her mobile phone as she gave chase despite her arm bleeding.

The Bradford woman, who did not want to be identified, came forward because she was concerned that police were powerless to act because the dog, a Rottweiler, was not a banned breed.

She said: "I was lucky. My injuries could have been worse. But if it had been a child or someone in a wheelchair they could have been really seriously hurt.

"The police told me they were powerless because it is not a banned breed under the Dangerous Dog Act. But if a dog is dangerous it doesn't matter what breed it is. The public needs to be protected from it."

The woman raised concerns just days after another case, reported in the Telegraph & Argus, highlighted a loophole in the Dangerous Dog Act. The Singh family were initially told police would not attend after their pet dog was attacked by another dog in their garden, even though it was still prowling outside and they were scared to leave their house.

The new victim told how she was walking in Pasture Lane, Clayton, Bradford.

"A young woman had it on a chain but it was a big dog and it was dragging her all over the pavement.

"I moved to one side to let them through but the dog lurched at me. I was taking a bite from an apple and the dog jumped up and sank its teeth into my arm through my jacket.

"It had its teeth in my arm for about five seconds while I tried to drag it free. It was the longest five seconds of my life."

She said the woman crossed the road and started to run off with the dog.

"I called 999 and got through to a police operator while I chased after the woman."

She managed to follow the woman to a house in Scholemoor and hid while she waited for police to arrive.

"I took my jacket off and saw I had two big puncture holes in my left forearm."

She had the wounds cleaned and dressed at Bradford Royal Infirmary and was put on strong antibiotics.

But she said: "I am concerned about the loopholes in the law. I asked a policeman what would happen about the dog and he said they were powerless because it didn't come under the Dangerous Dog Act unless someone was killed or very seriously injured."

Police said a 19-year-old woman had been interviewed under caution and inquiries were ongoing. It is understood the dog has not been removed by police.

Inspector Tom Horner, of Bradford West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "There are four dog breeds categorised as dangerous and if we are called to an incident involving an animal which is not one of these types there are still measures we can take to protect the public.

"When we attend the address of the dog owner a risk assessment is carried out which considers a number of factors such as: is the dog kept in a safe environment; are there children on the premises; has the dog previously been reported to the dog warden, and other elements relating to security and handling. If we are concerned about anything we can apply to the court for a warrant to seize the dog.

"It is never the case that a dog that poses a danger to the public, that has been reported to the police, is left to cause more harm."