A 73-year-old woman who claims she had her Yorkshire Terrier seized by seven police officers after it allegedly attacked a delivery courier will today be quizzed by police.

Claudia Settimo-Bovio, from Kingston, told the Standard she would be questioned by officers after they took away her 10-year-old dog Alfie following claims he was out of control.

Ms Settimo-Bovio has accused the police of overreacting and said she was left feeling distraught after they seized her pet dog.

Scotland Yard has disputed Ms Settimo-Bovio’s account of events and said two dog units and three police officers went to the address last Friday after the delivery courier claimed the dog bit his stomach and ear.

The animal was seized by police under the Dangerous Dogs Act more than six weeks after it is alleged to have attacked the delivery driver outside her house on June 21.

Police said the delivery courier claimed he was chased and attacked by “a dog, possibly a Border Collie or similar size”.

Ms Settimo-Bovio said the man, aged in his mid 30s, was delivering a parcel to her home but asked him to leave it outside when Alfie became over excited.

She went outside to collect the parcel but the dog ran through her legs and chased after the courier, she said.

Ms Settimo-Bovio said: “He screamed his head off, it was like a mad scene in the street but the dog never touched him.

“The police just came round and took my dog away at 8.30 in the morning. There were seven officers in five cars.

“They didn’t want to hear my version of events. I’m going to give them my side of the story today.

“He is a friendly dog. Everybody knows my dog. If I get him back now I will be very lucky.”

The dog is currently being held in kennels.

A Met Police spokeswoman said: “Police in Kingston have seized a dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act The seizure follows an incident on Wednesday, June 21.

“A delivery courier reported that a dog, possibly a Border Collie or similar size, had chased him and then leapt up and bit him on his stomach. He stated that he then fell over and was bitten behind the ear.

“The victim, who is in his mid 30s, went to a west London hospital and was treated for minor injuries. He reported the matter to police on June 26.

“At 08.08am on Friday, August 18 officers from Kingston attended an address in Vale Crescent, SW15 to carry out a search warrant under section 5 of the Dangerous Dog's Act 1991.

“Two dog units and three local officers attended the scene. The dog was found the be a Yorkshire Terrier.

“One dog unit remained to give advice and the other left. The dog was walked to a waiting police van on a lead.

“The owner of the dog has been identified and shall be interviewed at a mutually convenient time.”