by Lynn Cox

A dog owner may have been saved from a potential attack by her pet after she was approached by a man on the Coney Banks, in Chatham, on Tuesday morning.

The woman, who has not been named, was walking her pooch at about 10.30am when a man approached her from behind.

However just at that moment, her dog, which is thought to have been off the lead, spotted the man and began barking and running towards him.

The man then ran off and the woman reported the matter to police.

The incident sparked a police search of the area and officers in patrol cars were sent to the wasteland to find him.

The police helicopter was scrambled in a bid to help officers on the ground locate him, but after an extensive search of the banks and the fields no one matching the description given was found.

A spokesman for Medway Police said: "The helicopter was assisting officers on the ground investigating a concern for welfare incident."

Are you the dog walker? Do you know her? If so, contact the newsroom on 01634 227830.

A spokesman for Medway Police said: "The helicopter was assisting officers on the ground investigating a concern for welfare incident."

Are you the dog walker? Do you know her? If so, contact the newsroom on 01634 227830.