Gordon Gray, 56, was walking his bassett hound Lucy through Burn Valley Gardens, in Hartlepool, when the incident happened.

Dogs must be kept on a leash in the park but he fled when a hound that was roaming free bounded towards him and his faithful pooch.

As he tried to leave the park he slipped and broke his wrist and was left needing surgery, his arm in plaster and will need physiotherapy.

Semi-retired Mr Gray, who is dad to two grown-up daughters and lives with wife Barbara, in the town's Westbourne Gardens, said: "I have read about people being given fines for letting their dogs off leads. But in my view the punishment should be more severe as it seems nobody is taking any notice.

"I was in the Burn Valley on Monday when I saw an Alsatian off the leash coming towards me.

"I was wary of it and my dog certainly was as she is a nervous type anyway. In the rush to get away towards Elwick Road, I slipped and broke my wrist.

"Had that dog been on a lead, it would never have happened.

"I have noticed it more over the last few weeks, and it is wrong.

"It puts you off if you can't be comfortable walking your own dog for fear of being attacked by one that's off the lead.

"There should be more dog wardens trying to catch people, and the fines should be tougher.

"There are a lot of nice people who stick to the rules and keep their dogs on the lead.

"It can be nice socially, people often stop and talk while they're out walking, but it is being spoilt by the minority who ignore the rules."

Hartlepool Borough Council introduced a Dog Control order in 2008 stating that dogs must be kept on leads in parts of the Burn Valley Gardens after numerous complaints about dog fouling and unsociable dogs in the area.

Anyone found breaching the bylaw could face prosecution through the courts or be hit with an on-the-spot £80 fine.

A council spokesman said: "We want areas like the Burn Valley Gardens to be places that are safe for people to enjoy.

"The Dog Control Order (DCO) relating to the lower part of the gardens requires dog owners to keep their pets on leads, and the incident involving Mr Gray is an example of why we need such measures.

"However, we want to stress that we are not anti-dog and that we do also take into account the needs of dog owners.

"Indeed, in a number of areas, including the upper part of the gardens and the family wood area, we have made provision for dog owners to be able to let their animals run freely."