A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy was bitten by a dog in a “terrifying” attack outside a cafe.

Sonny Bellas was walking along George Street in Hove with his mum Sam when the terrier type dog, which was on a lead, shot out from under a cafe’s table and bit him on his upper thigh.

Mrs Bellas, 43, of Brooker Street, Hove, said: “If it was a baby it could have been killed. It was terrifying.”

Detectives are appealing for help to trace the owner of the dog after the incident outside Marina’s Cafe on Saturday.

Mrs Bellas said Sonny was given antibiotics.

She said the owner said the dog was excited and simply jumped.

Mrs Bellas added: “Paramedics came to treat him because he was in such a state.

She added: “Everyone was coming up to Sonny and asking if he was ok. He was really upset.”

A Sussex Police dog handler was called to the scene to provide specialist support shortly after 3.15pm.

The dog owner is described as being aged in her fifties, of large build, with short wavy ginger brown hair and wearing a patterned blue shawl. The dog owner is described as being aged in her fifties, of large build, with short wavy ginger brown hair and wearing a patterned blue shawl. Police have published her photograph in a bid to try and trace her.

Inspector Di Lewis of the Surrey and Sussex Police Dog Unit said: "We are appealing for witnesses and for the dog owner to come forward.

“This is clearly a worrying attack by a dog on a small child in a public place. We are concerned that although thankfully the injuries were slight on this occasion, there is potential for this to happen again, perhaps with more serious consequences."

"Contact us via 101 or email 101@sussex,pnn.police.uk quoting serial 0838 of 28/6."