Thirty-four-year-old Andy Brown is urging animal owners to act responsibly in the wake of a number of attacks on Royal Mail delivery staff across the Fylde coast.

He says it is a particular problem during the school holidays, when parents and children are at home and dogs are allowed unsupervised in the garden or out in the streets.

Royal Mail hosted a Dog Awareness Day to help staff in Cumbria and Lancashire understand the dangers of dogs and also how to deal with animals they encounter while out on their deliveries.

The dog which bit Andy was in the garden of a house when he called to deliver mail.

He said: "I didn't see or hear the dog at first so went into the garden and towards the door to deliver the mail. Then I noticed the dog coming towards me and it bit me on the ankle.

"This is the second time I've been bitten while on deliveries in the last three weeks and it shouldn't be happening. Fortunately, I didn't need to take any time off work, but postmen should be able to go our about our jobs without worrying whether we are going to be attacked."

From April to June this year there were four animal attacks on postmen and women in the Thornton and Cleveleys area.

Royal Mail's General Manager for Cumbria and Lancashire, Alan Gairns, said: "We know that not all dogs are dangerous, but even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being threatened.

"Our first priority is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people and increasingly we have to suspend deliveries because dogs are on the loose and it is not safe for our postmen and women.

"We have an extensive ongoing training programme in place to ensure staff are aware of the ways to manage the risk of a dog attack.

"Our customers can help by not allowing their dog access to any areas used by our delivery staff. They should also try and keep the pets away from their letterbox. Many of our attacks are caused by dogs snatching mail from the letterbox at the time of delivery."

Royal Mail also makes sonic alarms available to postmen and women which ward off roaming dogs. The alarms give out a high-pitched frequency which cannot be heard by humans but keeps animals safely at bay.

Following an attack or near miss, householders receive a letter from Royal Mail asking them to keep their pets under control or risk losing their doorstep delivery. In more serious cases, the local dog warden and police are informed.

Advice for Dog Owners

- Keep dogs indoors around the time the postman usually calls to deliver mail.

- Dog attacks can happen when opening the door to sign for an item. Keep dogs in another room before answering the door and make sure children don't open the door, as dogs can push by them and attack.

- Close off the access from the back garden in case dogs can get round to the front when the postman calls.

- Consider installing a letter cage for post inside the front door.

- If dogs cannot be kept away from a postman delivering mail, consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of the property.