A 41-YEAR-OLD man says he feared for his children’s safety after his family were set upon by three dogs and then attacked by their owner.

Justin Eronimus was playing football with his wife, two young children and two nephews in Northbrook Park, Lee, at around 7pm on July 9 when the attack happened.

He said: “All of a sudden we saw three large dogs running towards the children.

“My wife ran quickly into the middle of the park and picked my youngest child up.

“But the dogs surrounded her and were trying to grab the child from her while he was screaming.”

As the dogs growled and barked, Mr Eronimus managed to get the children to safety while the animals ripped one of the footballs to pieces.

But as the supermarket manager dialled 999, he saw the dogs’ owner had appeared and was swinging a metal lead at his wife Sivaranjani. News Shopper: Justin Eronimus was bitten three times

Following a struggle, Mr Eronimus was punched to the head and then the owner set the dogs on him.

Mr Eronimus said: “He just said ‘bite’ and as soon as he said that all three dogs jumped up and started attacking me.

“Then he ran off down the road.”

The father-of-two was treated in hospital for bites to his hand, hip and bottom.

He said: “If a child was attacked like I was they could have been seriously injured.

“I’m really afraid because the man’s mood was swinging.”

Police are investigating the incident but no arrests have been made.