A mum has called for dog owners to be more aware of what their pets are doing after saying her daughter was bitten at a Falmouth beach.

Ruth Campbell has appealed for help in tracing the owners of a golden retriever-cross, as she does not believe they are aware of what happened.

Ruth said she and her six-year-old daughter were sat at the beginning of the Swanpool Beach to Gyllyngvase coast path on Thursday, at around 4pm, when the incident took place.

She said: "We were sat at the start of the coastal path by the railing, dropping stones into the water. The dog came over and walked round her, sniffing.

"She then shouted “Ow!” and the dog ran off. I thought she had scathed her finger on a rock at first, as the dog was not aggressive - more so inquisitive.

"It was not provoked and neither did she have any food in her hand."

She subsequently discovered her daughter had in fact got a puncture wound to her finger.

"Whilst I comforted her and checked the bleeding wound, I remained calm so as not to further upset her, but I could not identify the owners.

"The dogs carried on up the coastal path to Gylly," added Ruth.

She described the dog as a slim built golden retriever-cross, which was with a shorted-haired tan coloured dog of a similar size.

Ruth said: "I’m appealing for anyone that recognises the description of these dogs to inform the owners.

"She is already petrified of unknown dogs due to strangers dogs jumping up at her when she was younger, on two separate occasions.

"Thank God it was nothing more than a puncture wound, but nonetheless it will no doubt only exaggerate her fear of dogs.

"Even if this post does not reach the owners, I hope it may remind any dog owners that choose to take their dogs off their leads to know what their dogs are doing at all times - I cannot believe that anyone witnessing their dog bite a child would have ignored this and walked away."