A dog attacked a group of school children practicing athletics in a park in South Norwood on Tuesday, biting two girls and tearing the trousers off another pupil.

Police are appealing for information after attack in which two girls, aged 13 and 12, from Harris Academy, were taken to hospital and given antibiotics to treat the bites.

Thaiye Adepoju, the mother of one of the victims, said her 13-year-old daughter Hannah was bitten on her leg. She was shopping in Croydon when the school called to tell her the teenager had been taken to hospital.

She said: “My daughter was with about 50 other students in the park when this woman came in and let the dog off its lead.

“My daughter said the dog just ploughed straight into the group of children, they all started screaming and trying to hide behind eachother.”

The 46-year-old said the dog, described as a staffordshire bull terrier cross, also bit a friend Raven Thompson.

She said: “The owner was swearing at the children. My daughter is really shaken up about it.”

Mrs Adepoju said dogs should not be allowed in the park when children are playing there.

“There should be designated places for dog walkers in parks.”

Carolyn English, the principal of Harris Aacademy South Norwood, said the children were training at the athletics track in the park.

“I have said we cannot use the park until the dog has been apprehended. I am wary that the dog must live nearby. If two teachers and a warden cannot stop the dog from attacking the children, it must be dangerous.”

She said the girls were disappointed they could not train but she had to keep their safety in mind.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police were called to South Norwood Recreation ground on May, 11 at 10:11am, following reports of two school children having been bitten by a dog.

“The children concerned, a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl, were taking part in a PE lesson when a dog described as brown and white in colour, is said to have ran up to them and bitten them. The dog is also said to have ripped the trousers of another pupil.

“The dog is believed to have been off the lead at the time of the incident. A female described as white, and aged approximately 19-years-old, left the park with the dog by the Tennison Road exit.

“LAS attended the scene and the two girls were taken to a South London Hospital with non-life threatening, non-life changing injuries.”

“Anyone with information should contact Croydon Police on 0300 123 1212.”