BLACKBURN council candidate and general election agent Phil Riley has been bitten on the hand leafleting in his Roe Lee ward.

The 67-year-old said it was the first time of more than 30 years of canvassing for Labour a dog had injured him.

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Mr Riley, agent for Kate Hollern’s bid to succeed Jack Straw as Blackburn MP, said: “It was a lovely sunny day and I was leafleting on Brownhill Drive in the Roe Lee ward I am contesting.

“I pushed a leaflet through a letter box and dog behind the letter box bit me hard.

“At one point I thought it wasn’t going to let go.

“When I got my hand out it was quite deeply bitten with some flesh hanging off.

“I want to the Royal Blackburn Hospital who bandaged me up and sent to the Preston for the plastic surgery people to have a look.

“It was very painful and the first time I’ve ever been bitten by a dog in 34 years of campaigning for Labour.

“I suppose I have been lucky as it is an occupational hazard.

“It would help if people put a warning sign that there might be a dog behind the letter box.

“I’ve no plans to take it any further.

“I just want to get back on the campaign trail quickly.”

Agents are stepping up campaigning ahead of the General Election on May 7.