A PENSIONER walking her dogs was shocked when a passer-by suddenly kicked one of her animals into the air and shouted abuse at her in an unprovoked attack.

Sue, who does not wish to give her full name, said she had paid little attention to the man as he walked towards her in East Reach, Taunton, at around 6.50pm on Friday.

"I noticed he was very tall - maybe 6ft 3in or 6ft 5in," said Sue, aged 61, who lives in the Priory area.

"I wasn't even looking at him and he just suddenly came and booted my little dog, Louie, into the air for no reason.

"I shouted at him and called him an idiot and he just turned round and started swearing at me, saying, 'Come on you old slag, I'll knock you out'.

"As I'm 61 I had no choice but to walk away."

Sue said that Louie, a five-and-a-half-year-old Jack Russell/Yorkshire terrier cross, squealed in agony and was cowering on the floor during the incident, which she has reported to police.

The dog's father, Tam, was also present and was unnerved by the attack.

"Fortunately, he seems alright now, but it must have hurt him because it was a big kick," said Sue.

"I was really shaken by what happened."

Police attended the area after further calls were made of anti-social behaviour by a man who fitted the description of the dog's attacker.

The culprit is described as white, tall and heavy, and her was wearing dark clothing and a dark beanie hat.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "This incident is being investigated as a public order offence."

If you saw the incident or have any information that could help, call PC Benjamin Dilworth-Smith on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5217036497.