NICKY Knowles has been left traumatised after her cat was savagely attacked and killed by a dog just metres from her home.

A Staffordshire bull terrier set upon the 17-year-old tabby cat on Sunday afternoon.

And Ms Knowles, a housewife, is now terrified the dog, which she says was not on a lead, could hurt a child.

Penny was the first cat Ms Knowles, of Norton Road, Walcot, bought.

"She was my baby," she said.

Ms Knowles, who has three children Scott, 17, Daniel, 16, and Amie, eight, was walking home on Sunday at about 2pm when she saw a group of people gathered outside her home.

"I could see a commotion. My children were there with some neighbours and my partner, David Congerton, 36, who cannot work because of a disability.

"Penny was on the floor.

"They said it had all happened in minutes and there was nothing anyone could do.

"I was in shock, I couldn't believe what had happened.

"She was like my little baby, I had her since she was just six weeks old and she was my first cat.

"I feel like I've lost one of my own, she was like a child to me.

"She used to follow me around the house and sit on my lap.

"She never went off very far like other cats do.

"Penny used to love sitting out in my garden or in my neighbour's garden, but now she's gone." The dog attacked the cat's throat.

"I phoned the vet straight away but there was nothing they could do. My little Penelope was gone."

Ms Knowles has four other cats at home and one died two weeks ago following kidney failure.

"The other cats know something is wrong and have been looking for Penny," she said.

She added: "I have buried Penny in my back garden and I've got a photo of her there too."

Ms Knowles has reported the attack to the police and she says she wants them to track the dog down to stop it striking again.

"I'm really worried that something else could happen to another cat or even to a child.

"What happened to Penny was horrible. I keep having flashbacks and can't sleep and I don't want it to happen again."

Swindon Police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar confirmed that the incident has been reported to the police.