A TODDLER was “swung like a rag doll” by a pit bull type dog.

Harley Estacio, three, was left with gaping puncture wounds after he was suddenly set upon during a seafront stroll.

His mother Laura Lavelle screamed as he was hurled into the air by the dog, which shook him like a toy.

Harley was taken to hospital covered in blood after the unprovoked attack in Kings Parade, Bognor, on Monday afternoon.

Ms Lavelle, 29, said: “I saw the dog lunge at Harley, get hold of him and pull him across the floor. It got hold of his ribcage.

“I looked down at Harley’s clothes and I could see blood – it swung him like a rag doll.”

She claimed the owner of the dog looked on and refused to apologise then unleashed a torrent of abuse.

Ms Lavelle said: “She did not apologise, there was nothing from her, no emotion there as she followed me and shouted abuse.”

Police are now seeking the woman. Sergeant Matthew Phelps said: “A man with another dog of the same breed collected the dog and he, and the woman in the picture, walked away.The boy has been left very traumatised by this incident. We believe the woman in the picture is the owner of the dog and we would like to speak to her.”

She is white, 5ft 4in, of stocky and in her late 50s. The man is white, tall and skinny.