A GANG of teenagers are being hunted by police after pet cats were ripped apart by their dog.

Today the family of one cat owner who saw her elderly animal savaged in front of her by condemned the thugs.

June Tattersall, 49, watched as her cat, Ginger, was ripped apart by a dog near her home on Norfolk Grove, Church.

The distraught mum-of-two could be the latest owner to lose a pet to the gang. Now Hyndburn's dog warden and the local police are investigating.

Dog warden Stephen Jones has now warned cat owners to be on their guard against the attacks until somebody is caught.

Mrs Tattersall said: "We have had her since she was a kitten. I still can't get it out of my head.

"I am disabled and my leg isn't so good, but I tried my best to get the dog off.

"All I could see was the dog with the cat in its mouth, shaking it up in the air."

Her sister, Katherine Doyle, 42, also of Norfolk Grove, said: "I think it's disgusting. I don't know how they can stand there and watch an animal being ripped to pieces."

The gang are thought to be setting a lurcher or greyhound on local cats, and Mr Wood said he had already started gathering statements from people in the area.

He said: "When all the evidence is in, arrests will follow. I am aware of three cats that have died, but people whose cats have been killed or gone missing don't necessarily notify the dog warden so there could be a lot more.

"In this day and age it's savage. It's very distressing for the people who actually see it happen, because of the noise the cats make when they're being killed. It really affects people."

Sergeant Claire Holbrook of Accrington police said: "We are looking into the circumstances of this matter as to whether the dog was dangerously out of control of the owner."

Heather Holmes, northern spokesman for the RSPCA, said: "The RSPCA does get involved if someone has incited an animal to attack another. Badger baiting is an example of that.

"But it's notoriously difficult to prove because we have to show intent and that is hard. We need witnesses who would be willing to stand up in court."

Anybody willing to help can call the RSPCA on a confidential line, 08705 555999.