AN elderly woman was savagely attacked by a dog after it escaped from a neighbour's garden.

Milly Isaacs, 93, of Overton Road, was at home at about 6pm yesterday when she noticed the dog had got into her back garden.

Mrs Isaacs, who is less than 5ft tall, went outside to try to calm the animal down but it turned on her, pinning her down before sinking its teeth into her and breaking her shoulder.

Her daughter, Barbara Breen, 61, of Surrey, said: “She was trying to coax it back into its own garden but it turned on her and threw her to the ground.

“It's mauled her back and her arm and she's got a broken shoulder – it was just hanging on to her and wouldn't let go.”

Great-grandmother-of-two Mrs Isaacs, who has lived alone since her husband was murdered about 15 years ago, underwent surgery today (Thursday) to repair the damage to her shoulder.

Mrs Breen said: “Her arm's in a really bad way – there was just constant bleeding.”

Mrs Isaacs' niece, Beryl Kline, 66, of Barkingside, who regularly visits her aunt, added: “The dog would just bark and bark and bark.

“It was a huge animal and it just did what it was supposed to.”

She added that the dog would often react to the smallest sound and that she believes the sound of a door opening might have triggered the attack.

Another neighbour raised the alarm after the attack and took care of Mrs Isaacs until she was taken to Homerton Hospital.

Mrs Kline said: “I want to thank her for being so kind – she saw to everything.”

The dog, a German Shepherd, usually bred as guard dogs, has now been put down and criminal charges could be brought against its owners.

The council recently launched a crackdown on dangerous dogs and legal powers could be granted to staff to take action against owners.