THE Royal Mail has called for dog owners to take action after attacks on postmen and women in Bolton went up by almost a third since last year.

The delivery giant revealed that there were 30 per cent more cases of their employees being attacked in 2017/18 than in 2016/17.

In the BL postcode, 13 postal workers were attacked by dogs between April 2017 and April 2018 and the increase is at odds with the national trend, which saw an eight per cent decrease.

And while the Bolton figure is relatively low, Royal Mail has raised concerns about the rapid increase and is highlighting the issue with its Dog Awareness Week, which runs from today until Saturday.

Dr Shaun Davis, Royal Mail group global director of safety, health, wellbeing and sustainability, said: "One attack is still one attack too many. Our research continues to show that attacks happen most often in the summer, so we are continuing our campaign to appeal to customers to help us cut attacks across the UK.

"I am pleased that the overall dog attacks numbers continue to fall, but I am still very concerned that in some postcodes attacks are on the increase. I am appealing to dog owners to think twice when the postman calls.

"Royal Mail knows that most dogs are not inherently dangerous, however, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being threatened.

"Dog attacks have a devastating effect on our people and on our customers and we hope we can make a further impact in these areas.

"We will also be rolling out new interactive training for our people in the hotspot areas to try and help us to do that.

"But people should remember that 82 per cent of attacks happen at the front door or in the garden so this is not just a Royal Mail issue, many other delivery, and utility companies and local authorities face the same problem."

There were 2,275 dog attacks across the UK in 2017/18, which adds up to more than 44 attacks every week.

Royal Mail’s research showed that the number of attacks rose during the school holidays and in the summer months when parents and children are at home.

In the last year, 82 per cent of dog attacks on postal workers have happened at the front door or in the front garden.

The number of attacks with yearly hospital admissions for dog bites increased by 76 per cent between 2006 and 2016.

Dave Joyce, national health and safety officer at the Communications Workers Union, said: "The failure of some dog owners to control their animals remains a major concern for postal workers and the public.

"Seven postal workers are attacked by dogs every working day of the year which is unacceptable.

"The whole idea of Dog Awareness Week is to highlight the problem and the repercussions for dog owners and the victims, many of whom are seriously injured.

"More and more dog attacks happen on postal workers at the front door or in the front garden and that number is increasing as we deliver more online purchased parcels."

He appealed to dog owners to put their dogs away in secure rooms before opening the door to postal workers.

Officials have also called on residents to keep dogs away from letterboxes, to not open the door when the dog is not under close control and to not allow dogs to roam around the garden.