AN Allerford woman suffered bites to her arms after a freak accident left one of her pet dogs dead and the other needing to be freed by firefighters.

The Hare Park resident needed first aid treatment after her pet collie Poppy and Staffordshire bull terrier Riley got tangled up in their choke chains.

The horror happened in the kitchen of the family home just before 8.30am on Sunday morning.

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the two dogs had been playing when the terrier got its leg tangled in the collie's choke chain.

As the dog tried to free itself, the two animals twisted around and the chain tightened around terrier's paw and the collie's neck.

The spokesman said both animals became increasingly distressed and the owner rang the fire service for help.

A crew from Porlock were sent to the property at 8.30am and found the collie was already dead.

They used bolt croppers to free Riley and gave the owner first aid treatment for the bites on her arms.

The service spokesman said: "It appears this was a really sad, freak accident and I don't believe any further action will be taken against the owner.

"The dogs had been playing and twisting round when the bull terrier put its paw through the collie's choke chain.

"It seems both animals were in a very distressed state and we had to cut the chain to release them."

The RSPCA was informed about the incident and a spokesman said the owner and her family were now fully supportive of the RSCPA's campaign against the use of choke chains.

"I can confirm that we were informed about this very sad incident, which we believe to have been a tragic accident," said the spokeman.

"We sympathise greatly with the owners, who were greatly distressed, and have offered them advice about the surviving dog.

"For us, this tragedy draws attention to the risks involved with using choke chains to which we are very strongly opposed.

"Not only does the use of these objects increase the risk of of tragic accidents such as this one, but as training devices they can cause pain with the potential to injure dogs.

"We would never recommend their use."