A TINY Yorkshire terrier which starred in a local school's production of the Wizard of Oz has been savaged to death by a bull mastif And today Scampi's owner, Audrey Walsh, 68, appealed for help in finding the dog and its owner.

Audrey, of Greenbank Terrace, Lower Darwen, had taken the 17-year-old dog for his usual evening stroll to the nearby former mill on Monday night when the attack happened.

She said: "When we were on our way back I saw a man with a big white bull mastiff.

"We crossed the road but it saw Scampi and pulled its owner across. The next thing I knew it had got a hold of Scampi and it was throwing him around.

"The dog's head was as big as my little dog and it's shoulders were huge. I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack."

Audrey said Scampi was left with a deep two inch gash to his neck. She rushed to a friend's house who took them to the vet. But Scampi was dead on arrival.

She said: "The vet told us Scampi probably died straight away so at least he didn't suffer.

"It's really upset me. I haven't been able to sleep properly since."

Scampi starred in Our Lady and St John Catholic Arts College's 2004 production as Toto alongside Audrey's grandaughter Natalie Walsh, who was a dancer.

Natalie, 17 who now attends Runshaw Coll-ege, Leyland, deman-ded the offending dog be destroyed.

She said: "Even though Scampi was quite old he was a happy and healthy dog.

"The owner of the other dog just left and didn't even offer any help. If the man can't control the dog then he shouldn't have it.".

Police are due to visit Mrs Walsh today for a full statement.

The offending dog is white with a black patch over its eye and is believed to be from Darwen.