A postman has told how he was bitten and seriously injured by a German Shepherd, as it is revealed Royal Mail workers in Scotland were attacked by dogs more than 200 times last year.

The Royal Mail said there were 2275 attacks across the UK over the same period, a fall of 8% from the previous year.

The Dog Awareness Week campaign is appealing for owners to understand the impact dog attacks can have on postal workers.

Postman Alan Quinn, from Paisley, was attacked by a German Shepherd last year and had to take three months off work.

He was bitten in the arm and needed hospital treatment and physiotherapy.

Mr Quinn said: "I had been delivering there for over ten years and the dog was never a problem but on this day, it got out and jumped on me at the external postbox and bit and tore into my arm and I was screaming for help covered in blood.

"The owner then took me to hospital. I never for a moment expected it.

"I'm not on the route anymore but I am very wary of dogs now - more than before.

"I'd just ask customers, please keep your dog away from the door, don't have your dog loose in the garden when we are all on our rounds."

The owner of the dog which attacked Mr Quinn was later prosecuted in the courts.

A total of 211 dog attacks on postmen and women took place in Scotland last year.

Royal Mail's safety director Dr Shaun Davis said: "One attack is still one attack too many.

"Our research continues to show that attacks happen most often in the summer, so we are continuing our campaign to appeal to customers to help us cut attacks across the UK."

He continued: "I am pleased that the overall dog attacks numbers continue to fall, but I am still very oncerned that in some postcodes attacks are on the increase.

"I am appealing to dog owners to think twice when the postman calls.

"We know that dogs are not inherently dangerous.

"But, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels it or its territory is being threatened."