A YOUNG girl today told of the moment of terror when she was savaged by two Staffordshire bull terriers as she walked near her home.

And today the 11-year-old victim's parents praised two men who fought the animals off -- and demanded that the dogs be put down.

Police were today considering a prosecution against the owners for not being in full control of dangerous dogs but said the animals may not be put down.

Samina Talaty was walking to the mosque near her home in Dickens Street, Blackburn, with her two-year-old sister Fatima and a friend when the dogs attacked her at around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

She suffered puncture wounds to both thighs and will be scarred for life.

The pupil at Audley County Infant School said: "It was very frightening. They were circling us and I had a feeling they were going to attack me but I though if I ran they would chase me.

"I started to scream and one jumped up and the other bit me. My legs are very painful.

"I want to say thank you to the men who saved me. If they had not been there both of my legs would be gone."

Police said the animals appeared to have escaped from another house in Dickens Street when the front door was left open. Zahid Varachhia, of Sidco Mini Market in Walter Street, and Sajid Mahmood, of Copperfield Street kicked the dogs away from the three girls.

Sajid said the incident was "awful" and added: "The young girl was just lying there with two dogs biting her leg. She was very distressed, shouting and screaming." Zahid Varachhia said: "I really don't want a fuss making of this, we just did what anybody would have done."

Samina's father Umar, 40, said: "We would really like to thank them because it could have been much worse. It is a good job they were there and I thank God.

"This has scared all the children and ours have lost their confidence now and are frightened about going out.

"They are really traumatised and I don't know how they will cope. Samina's wounds are not a pretty sight and the doctors have said the scars will be there for life.

"We want to see these dogs put down so it doesn't happen again."

Samina was taken to Blackburn Infirmary after the attack but was allowed home. She will have to return every two days to have the wounds redressed.

Umar, who owns A2B Taxis in Dickens Street, and his wife Shamim, 31, have three daughters, Samina, Farheen, nine, and Fatima, two.

Shamim said: "Farheen woke up three or four times in the night talking about the dogs and crying." Inspector Steve Haworth of Blackburn Police said: "Without the actions of these two men, what could have happened to this young girl does not bear thinking about."

He said officers were considering a prosecution against the owners of the dogs and the dogs would be destroyed, in line with legislation, if inquiries showed a previous offence.

The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act created a new offence of being an owner of a dog of any type or breed which is dangerously out of control in a public place.

The courts also have the power to destroy the animal if they feel it is a danger to public safety. but regularly allow them a chance to be retrained after an first "offence."