THE victim of an alleged assault in a playground in Chigwell claims he is afraid to go out following the ordeal.

James Campbell, 61, of Chigwell, was walking along a footpath through the playground of Limes Farm infant and junior schools at about 7.45pm on May 30 when he says he was run at by a pit bull terrier-type dog, which was being walked by a man and a woman.

“The dog was running around, but with a lead on,” he said. “I thought it was going to attack me. It was running up to me quite fast, so I put my foot up.”

He said that he was then attacked from behind before blacking out.

“After it happened, I got up and I was covered in blood. I turned around and the couple just walked off as if nothing had happened.”

He was taken to Queens Hospital in Romford and had to have surgery on his broken foot.

“I think I'm suffering from post-traumatic stress and I don't want to leave my bedroom,” he said. “When it happened, I spent a week in hospital and when I came out, I was mostly bed-ridden and I'm only slowly starting to go out, on crutches.

“I'm just trying to get my life back together again.”

Police are asking for witnesses to the attack to come forward and have released a description of two people they want to trace.

Dc Tom Dinsdale, of Essex Police, said: “We are keen to identify the suspect.

“We have been carrying out extensive enquiries and now need the public's help.

“I am currently trying to locate a white man, of thin build, 5ft 6ins tall and a woman, both in their 20's, who were walking a white dog, described as a terrier or pit bull type.”

Witnesses should telephone Dc Dinsdale at Waltham Abbey police station on 0300 333 4444 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.