POLICE came under attack and residents scurried into their homes as two rampaging "American pit bull" dogs ran amok in the streets of Haslingden, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard how one of the dogs a male was aggressive, growling and baring its teeth, and charged at an officer who had to hit it with his baton.

One householder claimed the dog was "mental", and told officers: "It was like that last week".

The dogs' owner, Patrick Ferguson, who claimed children had let the dogs out of his yard, was said to be extremely distressed over the melee. Both dogs have since been humanely destroyed.

Ferguson, 38, now of Lina Street, Accrington, was convicted, in his absence, of having a dog dangerously out of control in public.

Ferguson, also convicted of failing to surrender, was fined £175, with £75 costs. The bench, who made a destruction order, said his behaviour had been negligent. Chairman Margaret Dunne added: "There could have been serious consequences."

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, told the court on March 27 last year, police were called to the Parkinson Street area, at 4.15pm, after reports two American pit bulls were loose in the area and potentially attacking people.

The male dog was on its way out of a back yard and went towards an officer, growling and baring its teeth. The officer drew his baton to fend it off and the dog stepped back and then lunged at him again. The animal then sprinted towards one of his colleagues, who leapt on to a wall.

Mr Parker said the two dogs then "teamed up" and ran down a back alley towards the police. The male dog then charged at an officer, baring its teeth, and he had to hit it with his baton.

Mr Parker added: "That didn't stop the dog. Various residents were running into back yards as the dogs ran amok down the back street."

Mr Parker said one resident told police: "I told him that dog is mental. It was like that last week."

The female dog was restrained and the incident brought to an end when a police dog handler arrived.

Philip Whittaker, for Ferguson, said both animals were rescue dogs.

Both had been destroyed, even though only one was showing aggression.

Ferguson would say the dogs were bull mastiffs and they had not shown any particular aggression in the past.

The female had just had six pups and Ferguson left both dogs and the litter in the secure back yard.

Local children were excited about the pups and one would have left the gate insecure so the dogs got out.

The gate would then have been shut so the animals could not get back in to the pups.

Mr Whittaker added: "The female would have been very anxious, and the male was being very protective of the female."