A mum fears her four-year-old daughter will be scarred for life after she was bitten by a dog on a visit to a riding school.

Nicola Arnold, 30, had to rush Sophie to hospital covered in blood after she was allegedly bitten by a Jack Russell terrier.

Riding school owner Teresa Higgins owns a Jack Russell terrier, Benjy, but denies the dog could have been to blame.

Mrs Arnold, a sales assistant from Wallington, booked a riding lesson at Longshaw Riding School in Coulsdon for her daughters Sophie, 4, Jade, 9, and a friend.

She arrived early for her lesson and was waiting in the yard when the girls started playing with a dog.

She said: “A little Jack Russell appeared and the girls were stroking it, it was wagging its tail and appeared happy.

“We own a dog – Daisy, a staffy – so the girls know how to treat them. I heard screaming and turned around to see Sophie covered in blood.

“Jade told me she had been bitten by the dog.

“Because there was so much blood I did not want to start touching her face – I decided to take her to hospital.

“She had three bite marks and two of them needed stitches, she also had a tetanus shot.”

Mrs Arnold reported the matter to the police because she wanted parents taking their children to the stables to be aware the dog had bitten her daughter.

She said: “The owner needs to be aware the dog is capable of that with children around and to accept responsibility.”

In a statement from her lawyers Miss Higgins said neither she nor any of her staff actually saw what happened.

As far as she is aware, no one other than the little girl herself actually saw what happened.

The statement read: “Benjy is always kept safely in the stable block away from visitors behind a closed door.

“Benjy has a very good nature and is well trained.

“Since he was tiny he has grown up with children around him and he has never bitten anyone.

“For these reasons she can’t believe Benjy is to blame.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed detectives from Epsom CID investigated the dog attack at the stables.

She said: “After speaking to mother of the injured child and the owner of the dog, it became clear the injury happened on private property, although accessible to the public via appointment.

“Following in-depth consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service it was realised for the purposes of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the place in question is not deemed a public place.

“As the incident took place on private property it is not covered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and, therefore, no criminal offence occurred.

“Officers were sympathetic to the victim’s situation but explained to her mother as no criminal law had been broken the matter could not be pursued by police.

“The victim’s mother was advised of her right to seek civil legal advice.”