AN elderly milkman was savaged on his round by a Rottweiler as his terrified grandson watched helplessly. Jack Roberts, aged 64, was attacked after he had delivered five pints of milk to the dog's owner yesterday. The animal's teeth went through the milkman's hand.

Mr Roberts, who lives in Farnworth, freed himself after an agonising tug-of-war.

He lost a lot of blood and was rushed to the Royal Bolton Hospital before being transferred to Manchester's Withington Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery last night.

Surgeons fear it could be months before Mr Roberts regains the use of his hand.

The attack in Campbell Court, Farnworth, has stunned his colleagues and angered residents. Police were hoping to interview the animal's owner today.

Mr Roberts was on his daily round with his grandson, 14-year-old Declan Donnelly. The pair were approached by a man in Campbell Court and asked for milk. The man, who was not a usual customer, asked Declan to help him carry the bottles back to his home but Mr Roberts volunteered instead.

He was collecting money from the man when the dog suddenly attacked. Declan ran to a nearby house to raise the alarm and other residents ran out and tried to comfort Mr Roberts before paramedics arrived.

His wife, Cecelia, 59, said today: "If people cannot control their dogs they should not be allowed to own them. I can't blame the dog but I feel nothing but anger and contempt towards the owner."

Mrs Roberts and her husband own two Staffordshire Terriers.

"Jack has a way with dogs and treats them with respect," said Mrs Roberts. "But he did not see the dog on this occasion and did not realise it was there."

The dog's owner - a man aged about 30 - threatened a BEN reporter and photographer when they approached him at his home. He shouted: "It was my dog that did it. Just you lot watch your heads."

Mr Roberts has delivered in the Farnworth area for more than 20 years. Customer Diane Mulvaney, 41, of Cawdor Court said: "Everybody knows Jack Roberts around here. He's a smashing sort of guy who always has a smile."

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