'I thought I could be dead but I tried to be strong' - boy attacked by dogs relives his trauma

A mother is calling for tougher penalties for dog owners after her son was mauled by two dogs as he walked home from the park.

Maaza Hafiz says her 11-year-old son Abdul owes his life to his neighbours who wrestled the dogs to the floor. Abdul had to undergo hours of surgery and will be scarred for life.

Abdul Khaled says he's lucky to be alive.

He and his brother had been walking home from the park in Frenchay near Bristol last week when his nightmare began.

Abdul had to undergo reconstructive surgery and will be scarred for life. But his mother, who was at work at the time, says his injuries would be much worse if not for the actions of her neighbours.

Tayba Limon and her husband rushed to the rescue after hearing Abdul's screams. As her husband prized the dogs away from Abdul's body, Tayba did what she could to stem the bleeding.

But while his injuries heal, Abdul's mental scars will take far longer to recover from. He wakes up crying in the night and says he doesn't like going out any more: "I like to stay near my house now, I wouldn't go around the streets now any more."

Police say a dog has been seized and a man was voluntarily interviewed but that their enquiries are ongoing. Maaza Hafiz says the attack has had an effect on the whole community and children are being kept indoors. She wants to see tougher penalties for the owners of dogs who attack.

Maaza says she doesn't know when her family will feel safe again but says something needs to change to stop any other family suffering in the same way.