A FAMILY were left trapped in their home by an out-of-control dog, after no one would claim responsibility for it.

Lindsey Richell, 44, of Highland Avenue, Loughton, said her family were only rescued by chance when police attended a neighbouring burglary.

She said: “On New Year's Eve we were coming home. I thought there was something in the road, and it might be one of our cats. We got out the car and it was a dog.

“The dog jumped in our car, it was a Staffie and it took ages to get it out. It was jumping all around the people carrier. Eventually my husband got it out the car.

“We went to come into our house but the dog followed us in. My cats were going crazy. My children were terrified. My eldest is 19 and my youngest is 12 , and the eldest was hiding behind me because it was quite frightening.

“My husband's a big bloke and he had trouble picking it up. We eventually got it out the back door then we heard this noise and the dog was going absolutely crazy attacking the fence and the back gate.”

Mrs Richell contacted Loughton police station but they informed her responsibility for stray dogs had been passed to Epping Forest District Council and they couldn't help.

But after calling the council, Mrs Richell claims she could only reach a recorded message telling her the offices would be open on January 4- five days later.

Fortunately for the Richell family a squad of three police cars attended her road that night for an unrelated burglary.

Noticing the commotion at Mrs Richell's house, a police officer intervened and took the dog away to Loughton police station. It was later taken to the district council's dog pound.

Mrs Richell said: “I'm just so disgusted. I didn't know if it was a dangerous dog and no-one would take responsibility for it.”

A spokeswoman for the district council said: "Currently, the Council's Animal Welfare staff will collect the stray and transport it to the commercial kennel where the dog is held until it is claimed, re-homed or destroyed.

"As the kennel providing this service closes at 4pm, there would be nowhere to take the dog until it reopened the following morning, which is why callers will sometimes hear a recorded message, even when the Council is open.