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A postwoman was attacked by three dogs while making a delivery in east Hull.

The attack, which happened earlier this week in Bilton Grange, left the woman with "puncture" wounds to her body.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman was unable to give details of the incident owing to the Bank Holiday, but in a statement said: "We are investigating this matter.

"Our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customer and its very distressing when one of our people is attacked or worried by a dog while carrying out their job.

"Royal Mail can suspend deliveries to the dog’s address and other addresses nearby if an attack has happened and there here is a risk to our people. We only suspend deliveries as a last resort.

"Last year, there were 2,470 dog attacks on postmen and women in the UK. We also appeal to dog owners and their families across the Hull area to help reduce the numbers of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden."

A source told the Mail: "No dogs were apparently present at the address this postie was delivering to, but there were three dogs next door.

"The dogs were so keen to get to this woman that they actually pushed over a gate separating the two properties."

A Hull postie, who did not want to give his name, said dogs pose a significant threat to those making deliveries.

"We're told not to enter a property if there's a dog loose," he said. "There are certain things we can do to help ourselves, such as rattle gates to see if we get a response before entering.

"But what all posties fear the most is what we call the 'silent assassins' - those dogs that won't bark, but will sit and wait, then attack you."

The worker said modern letterboxes do not help.

"Boxes these days are stuffed full with anti-draught bristles that you practically have to fold letters in half and then feed them through," he said.

"A silent assassin on the other side of the door can easily have your finger tips off. The damage can be horrendous.

"It would definitely help if dog-owners would fit grilles over boxes, which would protect letters and posties' fingers."

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